This article argues that marriage has undergone a process of deinstitutionalization—a weakening the social norms define partners' behavior—over past few decades. Examples are presented involving increasing number and complexity cohabiting unions emergence same‐sex marriage. Two transitions in meaning occurred United States during 20th century have created context for deinstitutionalization. The first transition, noted by Ernest Burgess, was from institutional to companionate second...

The higher divorce rate for remarriages after than first marriages, it is argued, due to the incomplete institutionalization of remarriage in United States. Persons who are remarried a and have children from previous marriages face problems unlike those encountered marriages. institution family provides no standard solutions many these problems, with result that unity families often becomes precarious. ramarriage shows us, by way contrast, still supported effective institutional controls,...

The Marriage-Go-Around: State of Marriage and the Family in America Today . Andrew J. Cherlin New York : Alfred A. Knopf 271 pp. ISBN 9780307266897 $25.95 cloth Marriage-Go-Around is a thoughtful integrative book written by one most respected accomplished scholars on marriage world. that provides both breadth depth his wide-ranging description family life America, with numerous international comparisons sharpening arguments about aspects American society. that, to support contention unique,...

Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage explores Americans' ambivalence toward marriage: we continue to value it highly, but also marry later, dissolve the marriages make more readily, and are reluctant remarry than ever before. In a revision enlargement, Andrew Cherlin examines course of family life in America, including cohabitation, marriage, divorce remarriage, from end World War II through early 1990s. He assesses causes consequences these trends, ranging anomaly 1950s, when marriage rose,...

Past research suggests that children who experience multiple transitions in family structure may face worse developmental outcomes than raised stable two-parent families and perhaps even stable, single-parent families. However, negative child be associated because of common causal factors such as parents' antecedent behaviors attributes. Using a nationally-representative, two-generation longitudinal survey includes detailed information on children's behavioral cognitive development, history,...

This analysis examines trends in young adults union formation comparing marriage to when cohabitation is included as well marriage. It then documents the characteristics of cohabiting couples terms duration presence children perceived stability plans and opinions about cohabitation. Finally it analyzes several marriage-related attitude items among all unmarried persons under age 35. The US National Survey Families Households provides data on a national sample 13017 respondents. large...

National, longitudinal surveys from Great Britain and the United States were used to investigate effects of divorce on children. In both studies, a subsample children who in two-parent families during initial interview (at age 7 British data at ages 11 U.S. data) followed through next 16, respectively). At time points data, parents teachers independently rated children's behavior problems, given reading mathematics achievement tests. problems. Children whose divorced or separated between two...

The long-term effects of parental divorce on individuals' mental health after the transition to adulthood are examined using data from a British birth cohort that has been followed age 33. Growth-curve models and fixed-effects estimated. results suggest part negative effect adults is result factors were present before parents 'marriages dissolved. also suggest, however, its aftermath adult health. Moreover, during childhood or adolescence continues have when person in his her twenties early thirties

In spite of the upset children experience after parental separation, Furstenberg and Cherlin find that most adapt successfully as long their mother does reasonably well financially psychologically, conflict between parents is low. The casualty divorce usually declining relationship fathers children.

This paper discusses five themes related to the formation and functioning of stepfamilies. The first section examines how demographic trends, particularly changing marriage remarriage rates rising levels cohabitation, are affecting post-marital family arrangements. second looks at creation new forms kinship associated with cohabitation. third fourth parts explore issues social organization stepfamilies consequences for children. final takes up question whether why remarried persons higher...

Abstract This article reexamines the thesis that marriage is becoming deinstitutionalized. It first reviews relevant theoretical literature on social institutions, including “new institutionalism” and work of Bourdieu cultural capital. addresses great class differences have emerged in American family life over past few decades their implications for deinstitutionalization thesis. then evaluates thesis, with these conclusions: What has happened recent years to place broader field intimate...

The effects of parental divorce during childhood and adolescence on the mental health young adults (age 23) were examined, using National Child Development Study (NCDS), a longitudinal, multimethod, nationally representative survey all children born in Great Britain 1 week 1958 (N = 17,414). Children assessed at birth subsequently followed up ages 7, 11, 16, 23 by means maternal child interviews, psychological, school, medical assessments. Parental had moderate, long-term negative impact...

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Modernization of Grandparenthood 3. Styles Grandparenting 4. Grandparental Careers 5. Variations 6. A Special Case: Grandparents and Divorce 7. Influence on Grandchildren 8. Future Appendices Notes Index

Results from a longitudinal study of 2402 low-income families during the recent unprecedented era welfare reform suggest that mothers' transitions off and into employment are not associated with negative outcomes for preschoolers (ages 2 to 4 years) or young adolescents 10 14 years). Indeed, no significant associations were found preschoolers, dominant pattern was also few statistically adolescents. The did occur provided slight evidence entry labor force related improvements in adolescents'...

During the past century U.S. family system has seen vast changes—in marriage and divorce rates, cohabitation, childbearing, sexual behavior, women's work outside home. Andrew Cherlin reviews these historic changes, noting that remains most common living arrangement for raising children, but especially poor minority are increasingly likely to grow up in single-parent families experience instability.