Abstract
This study offers knowledge about factors associated with a key type of family change, namely, two- to-three-generation household
transformations, which are poorly understood, despite increasing numbers of three-generation households, especially ones headed
by females. Using a representative sample of 5,874 Australian children, results showed that the circumstances of children
in two-generation households differed greatly by family structure. Thus, before investigating determinants of three-generation
household formation, children were first grouped as living in either two-parent or single-mother households. For both groups
of children, several factors were found associated with three-generation household formation. In two-parent households, the
odds of three-generation household formation decreased with mothers’ ages, fathers’ higher educational attainments, and more
children, but increased as children grew older. In single-mother households, the odds of three-generation household formation
decreased with mothers’ higher educational attainments, increasing income, and more children, but increased if mothers had
never been married and worked more hours. Living in rural areas decreased odds of three-generation household formation for
children in both types of households. Overall, grandparents appear to play a relatively more important resource role in three-generation,
mother only households than in three-generation, two-parent households.
transformations, which are poorly understood, despite increasing numbers of three-generation households, especially ones headed
by females. Using a representative sample of 5,874 Australian children, results showed that the circumstances of children
in two-generation households differed greatly by family structure. Thus, before investigating determinants of three-generation
household formation, children were first grouped as living in either two-parent or single-mother households. For both groups
of children, several factors were found associated with three-generation household formation. In two-parent households, the
odds of three-generation household formation decreased with mothers’ ages, fathers’ higher educational attainments, and more
children, but increased as children grew older. In single-mother households, the odds of three-generation household formation
decreased with mothers’ higher educational attainments, increasing income, and more children, but increased if mothers had
never been married and worked more hours. Living in rural areas decreased odds of three-generation household formation for
children in both types of households. Overall, grandparents appear to play a relatively more important resource role in three-generation,
mother only households than in three-generation, two-parent households.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-012-9284-5
- Authors
- Peter D. Brandon, Department of Sociology, The University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476