Isabella Buber-Ennser

Human Capital, Values, and Attitudes of Persons Seeking Refuge in Austria in 2015

Since its inception in 2010, the Arab Spring has evolved into a situation of violent conflict in many countries, leading to high levels of migration from the affected region. Given the social impact of the large number of individuals applying for asylum across Europe in 2015, it is important to study who these persons are in terms of their skills, motivations, and intentions. DiPAS (Displaced Persons in Austria Survey) aims to uncover the socio-demographic characteristics of the persons seeking refuge who arrived in Austria in 2015, mainly originating from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Particular focus is on human capital, attitudes and values. This survey, the first of its kind in Austria and possibly in Europe, was carried out among adult displaced persons, mostly residing in Vienna, yielding 514 completed interviews. Information gathered on spouses and children allows for the analysis of 972 persons living in Austria, and of further 419 partners and children abroad. Results indicate that the surveyed population comprised mainly young families with children, particularly those coming from Syria and Iraq. Their educational level is high compared with the average level in their country of origin. A vast majority of respondents are Muslims, rating their religiosity at medium levels. Judging from stated attitudes towards gender equity, interviewed men seem to have more liberal attitudes than their compatriots. The majority of respondents do not intend to return to their home countries, mostly because of the perception of permanent threat. DiPAS provides data for political decision-making and the on-going societal dialogue. Its findings can help to inform assessments about the integration potential of the displaced population into the host society. In addition, the applied methodological technique and experiences during the fieldwork provide valuable insights on sampling asylum seekers and refugees in the current European context.

Being ready for a child: A mixed-methods investigation of fertility intentions

This article aims to better understand the concept of fertility intentions with regard to family formation. Using a mixed-method approach, it combines qualitative and quantitative methods. During problem-centered interviews feeling ready was argued to be crucial for the decision to have a child. Readiness is considered to be mainly an emotional state of mind and refers not only to the individual itself but also to the partner and to the couple as a unit. Based on the qualitative results, additional questions were included in the ‘Generations and Gender Survey’ allowing to analyze the dimension of being ready also in a national representative dataset. Our quantitative results revealed that the feeling of being ready has additional explanatory power for childbearing intentions among childless men and women in Austria. Emotional factors such as the feeling of being ready are often neglected although they might broaden the understanding of the family formation process.

RESEARCHERS, RELIGION AND CHILDLESSNESS.

This study analysed childlessness and religion among female research scientists in the Austrian context. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of religion in intended childlessness and realized childlessness. The analysis was based on a representative sample of Austrian women aged 25-45 (N=2623), with a specific sample of female research scientists aged 25-45 (N=186), carried out in the framework of the Generations and Gender Survey conducted in 2008/09. The results indicate that religious affiliation and self-assessed religiosity are strongly related to fertility. Multivariate analyses reveal that education has no explanatory power in terms of explaining intended childlessness, once religious affiliation and self-assessed religiosity are taken into consideration.

Household Position, Parenthood, and Self-reported Adult Health. Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Evidence from the Austrian Generations and Gender Survey

Humans share their lives with parents, siblings, partners, children, relatives, friends, neighbours, and colleagues. These relational and institutional embedding and shared events—or the lack of events—over the life course as well as personal characteristics and the needs of those involved strongly influence an individual’s health. This study is based on the Austrian Generations and Gender Survey and examines women’s and men’s health in young and middle adulthood from a household and family perspective, focusing on reproductive years from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal perspective. We concentrate on household position by gender and account for partner status and the existence of pre-union children, parity, and the arrival of a newborn. While our primary interest is on the general relationships between an individuals’ family context and different health outcomes, we specifically include non-standard living arrangements, especially stepfamilies and individuals living apart together.