How to build an invisible man: the social networks of involuntarily childless older men

Hadley, Robin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4254-7648 (2015) How to build an invisible man: the social networks of involuntarily childless older men. In: Social Science Postgraduate Symposium 2015, 18 June 2015, Keele University, UK. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Research in the field of older men who are involuntarily childless is important, not only because of actual and projected demographic change (Office for National Statistics, 2009), but also because of the scarcity of material relating to the effects of involuntary childlessness on men as they age (Dykstra and Keizer, 2009). Involuntary childlessness can result in multiple losses (Adler, 1991) whilst distress levels in both men and women in this population have been found to be as high those with grave medical conditions (Domar et al. 1992; Domar et al. 1993; Fisher et al. 2010). Against the background of an increasing ageing population, and a decline of family support in later life, this study aimed to address the gap in evidence by interviewing 14 men, aged between 49 and 82, about their experience of involuntary childlessness, its effects on their day-to-day lives, and their plans for the future. This paper focuses on the close, inner, and wider circle of relationships and describes the factors that impact on the participant’s personal networks across the life course.