Using data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, we evaluate extent to which cohabitation is similar marriage. The quality recently formed cohabiting marital relationships among Black White Americans ages 19 48 investigated in an effort advance our understanding meaning relative Controlling for relationship duration demographic characteristics respondent, find that cohabitors general report poorer than their married counterparts. However, cohabitors' marriage plans...

Data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families (N = 35,938) were used to examine relationship between family structure and child well‐being. I extended prior research by including children in two‐biological‐parent cohabiting families, as well stepfamilies, an investigation roles economic parental resources on behavioral emotional problems school engagement. Children living families experience worse outcomes, average, than those residing with two biological married parents, although...

One third of all children are born to unmarried mothers and over one half will spend some time in a single-parent family. In fact, single-father families the fastest growing family form. Using data from 1995 National Longitudinal Survey Adolescent Health, authors extend prior research that has investigated effects up two-parent versus single-mother by examining adolescent delinquency families, too. This strategy helps us identify mechanisms through which living with single parent increases...

Purpose.Our study documents how the divorce rate among persons aged 50 and older has changed between 1990 2010 identifies sociodemographic correlates of today's middle-aged adults.

Over the past decade, linkages between marriage and child well-being have attracted attention of researchers policy makers alike. Children's living arrangements become increasingly diverse unstable, which raises important questions about how why family structure stability are related to outcomes. This article reviews new research on this topic, emphasizing it can inform debates role in reducing poverty improving It also pays special scholarship unmarried, primarily low-income families,...

The landscape of union formation has been shifting; Americans are now marrying at the highest ages on record and majority young adults have cohabited. Yet little attention paid to timing cohabitation relative marriage. Using National Survey Families Households 4 cycles Family Growth, authors examined marriage, cohabitation, unions over 20 years. As median age first marriage climbed, remained stable for men women. changes in similar according race/ethnicity. marked delay among women with low...

Marital status is a key determinant of psychological well-being. I use data from both waves the National Survey Families and Households to evaluate effect union type (i.e., cohabitation versus marriage) on depression. Cohabitors report higher levels depression than their married counterparts, net sociodemographic factors. The greater characterizing cohabitors primarily due relationship instability relative marrieds. Cohabitors' reports are about 25 percent marrieds' reports. High especially...

Data from both waves of the National Survey Families and Households (NSFH) were used to estimate effects couple‐level measures cohabitors' relationship assessments expectations on their union transitions. Although positive deterred separation, they did not hasten entry into marriage. Female partners' negative increased odds whereas such reports among male partners weakened Plans marry positively associated with marriage entry, but this effect was considerably larger for White couples than it...

Increasingly, children are living with cohabiting parents. Prior work on the material well‐being of in families is extended by including biological relationship to adults, examining racial and ethnic variations, investigating multiple indicators well‐being. We draw 1999 National Survey America’s Families ( N = 34,509). Our findings suggest that can potentially benefit from a partner whose resources shared family members. Although married rather than parents fare better terms well‐being, this...

Although children's family lives are diverse, the measurement of living arrangements has lagged, focusing on relationships children to parents while largely ignoring sibling composition. Using data from 2008 Survey Income and Program Participation (N = 23,985) authors documented patterns complexity among a nationally representative sample ages 0-17 in range structures. They also examined independent joint associations structure child economic well-being. Family was independently related...

This study examined whether family structure was associated with adolescent risk behaviors, including smoking and drinking. Family living arrangements have become increasingly diverse, yet research on behaviors has typically relied measures of that do not adequately capture this diversity. Data from the 1994–1995 National Longitudinal Study Adolescent Health were used to conduct logistic regression analyses revealed adolescents in two biological married parent families least likely smoke or...

Older adults are at the forefront of family change as a declining share experiences lifelong marriage and rates cohabitation divorce in later life continue to rise. The goal this article is review recent scholarship on marriage, cohabitation, among older identify directions for future research. varied characterizing course demonstrate importance moving beyond marital status capture additional dimensions biography, including transitions, timing, duration, sequencing. Cohabitation operates an...

Purpose of the Study:Our study provides a national portrait Baby Boom generation, paying particular attention to heterogeneity among unmarried Boomers and whether it operates similarly women versus men.

Researchers largely have relied on a measure of family structure to describe children’s living arrangements, but this approach captures only the child’s relationship parent(s), ignoring presence and composition siblings. We develop complexity that merges sibling distinguish between simple two-biological-parent families, families with complex-sibling (half or stepsiblings) complex-parent (stepparent, single-parent) families. Using Survey Income Program Participation (SIPP), we provide...

Using data from the 1995 and 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth, authors' study examined children's family instability birth to age 12, emphasizing variation by racial ethnic group. Period cohort estimates revealed little change in experiences transitions during past decade. levels were comparable for White Hispanic children, this pattern persisted over time. However, there was an increase among Black reflecting growth share children born single mothers who eventually formed...

Objectives. According to the 2000 Census, about 1.2 million persons over age 50 are currently cohabiting. Do these unmarried cohabiting partnerships provide adults with mental health benefits that similar those enjoyed by marrieds? We extended prior work on marital status and depression including cohabitation in our conceptualization of status.

Objectives. Older adults are increasingly likely to experience cohabitation, or living together unmarried in an intimate, heterosexual union. In order begin building a conceptual framework, we provide descriptive portrait of older adult cohabitors, emphasizing how they compare remarrieds and unpartnereds.

Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 1,198), this study examines associations between education parental strains rewards among mothers young children. Findings indicate that a college degree or more is related to less parenting anxiety, but role captivity, new life meaning than lower levels education. Differences by are partly explained variation in progressive values work commitment, remain significant. These patterns provides greater resources ease...

Cohabitation among adults over age 50 is rising rapidly, more than doubling from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.75 2010. A small literature provides a descriptive portrait of older cohabitors, but no study has investigated transitions into and out cohabitation during later life. Drawing on demographic life course perspectives, the authors developed framework for conceptualizing union behaviors. Using data 1998 - 2006 Health Retirement Study, they estimated discrete -time event-history models...