The magnitude and timing of grandparental coresidence during childhood in the United States

Mariana Amorim, Natasha Pilkauskas and Rachel Dunifon
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Mariana Amorim: Cornell University
Natasha Pilkauskas: University of Michigan
Rachel Dunifon: Cornell University

Demographic Research, 2017, vol. 37, issue 52, 1695-1706

Abstract: Background: The likelihood that a US child will live with a grandparent has increased over time. In 2015, nearly 12% of children lived with a grandparent. However, the likelihood that a child will ever live with a grandparent is not known. Objective: We calculate the cumulative and age-specific probabilities of coresidence with grandparents during childhood. We stratify our analyses by types of grandparent-grandchild living arrangements (grandfamilies and three-generation households) and by race and ethnicity. Methods: We use two data sets – the pooled 2010–2015 American Community Surveys (ACS) and the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY–97) – and produce estimates using life tables techniques. Results: Results indicate that nearly 30% of US children ever coreside with grandparents. Both three-generation and grandfamily living arrangements are more prevalent among racial and ethnic minority groups, with three-generation coresidence particularly common among Asian children. Black children are nearly two times as likely to ever live in a grandfamily as compared to Hispanic and white children, respectively. Children are much more likely to experience grandparental coresidence during their first year of life than in any other year. Conclusions: This paper suggests that the magnitude of grandparental coresidence is greater than previously known, particularly in early childhood. Contribution: This is the first study to calculate age-specific and cumulative probabilities of coresidence with grandparents during the whole childhood. Doing so allows us to better craft public policies and guide new research on family complexity.

Keywords: family structure; grandparents; multigenerational households; life table; grandfamilies; three-generation families; United States of America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:37:y:2017:i:52

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2017.37.52

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