How have changes in birth rates, death rates, life expectancy and migration reshaped families and households?
Component 1 Section B: demographic change and its impact on family life, including changes in the birth rate, death rate, life expectancy, the ageing population and migration, and their effects on family structure.
An OCR A-Level Sociology Families and relationships guide to demographic change. Covers the falling birth and fertility rates, the falling death rate and rising life expectancy, the ageing population, migration, and their effects on families (the beanpole family and the sandwich generation), with the reasons and exam skills Section B rewards.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR Section B examines demographic change, the changing patterns of births, deaths, life expectancy and migration, and asks how these reshape families and households. You need the trends, the reasons behind them, and their effects on family structure, such as the beanpole family and the ageing population. It feeds both short questions and evaluation essays.
The answer
Measuring population
The falling birth and fertility rates
The birth and fertility rates have fallen over the long term. The main reasons are:
- The changing position of women. Greater access to education, careers and reliable contraception means many women delay or limit childbearing.
- The changing cost and value of children. Children have shifted from an economic asset (extra labour) to an economic cost (childcare, education), and society has become more child-centred, so families have fewer children.
- Falling infant mortality. When more children survive, families no longer need to have many to ensure some live to adulthood.
The falling death rate and the ageing population
The death rate has fallen and life expectancy has risen, thanks to improvements in healthcare (vaccination, antibiotics, the NHS), nutrition, public health and living standards. Combined with lower fertility, this produces an ageing population: a growing proportion of older people and a higher dependency ratio.
Effects on families and the role of migration
These trends reshape family structure. The beanpole family, tall and thin, has several living generations (grandparents, great-grandparents) but few siblings, reflecting longer lives and lower fertility. Many adults become a sandwich generation, caring for both children and elderly parents. Migration changes the ethnic and age composition of the population and adds to family diversity. The march of progress view sees families adapting positively, with older people contributing childcare and support, while Phillipson (a Marxist) argues the elderly are devalued as economically redundant under capitalism.
Examples in context
A top answer gives clear causal reasons with applied examples, and can link the trends to their effects on family structure (the beanpole family, the dependency ratio).
Try this
Q1. Outline two reasons for the fall in the death rate. [4 marks]
- What the marker wants. Two reasons (AO1, two marks each): improvements in healthcare and medicine, and better nutrition and living standards, each briefly developed.
Q2. Outline and explain two effects of an ageing population on family life. [12 marks]
- Cue. Two developed points: the beanpole family with more living generations and intergenerational care, and the sandwich generation caring for children and elderly parents, each applied to an example and weighed for whether it is positive or negative.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR H580/01 201812 marksOutline and explain two reasons for the fall in the birth rate. [12]Show worked answer →
An Outline and explain question (AO1 and AO2, six marks per reason). Each reason needs development and an applied example.
Reason one. The changing position of women: as women gain education and careers and use reliable contraception, many delay or limit childbearing, for example women having fewer children later in life.
Reason two. The rising cost and changing value of children: children are now an economic cost rather than an asset and society is more child-centred, so families have fewer children, for example the expense of childcare and education. The top band develops each reason and applies an example.
OCR H580/01 202116 marksEvaluate the view that an ageing population has mainly negative consequences for families. [16]Show worked answer →
A shorter Section B evaluation essay (AO1, AO2 and AO3) marked by levels of response.
For. An ageing population increases the dependency ratio and the care burden on families, producing the "sandwich generation" caring for children and parents at once, and raising costs (pensions, care). Phillipson argues the elderly are devalued in capitalism.
Against. Older people contribute through childcare, financial support and volunteering; the beanpole family means more living generations and intergenerational ties; grandparents are a key family resource.
Judgement. There are real pressures, but also significant benefits, so the consequences are mixed rather than mainly negative. This balance reaches the top band.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR AS and A Level Sociology (H180, H580) specification — OCR (2015)