Title

Instability in Three-Generation Family Households and Child Wellbeing

Author(s)

Natasha V. Pilkauskas Natasha Pilkauskas (Columbia University)

Abstract

This paper investigates to what extent stable and unstable three-generation family households (grandparent, parent and child) are associated with child socioemotional, cognitive and health outcomes over the first three years of a child?s life. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N=2,666) differences in the association by mother?s relationship status and interactions with nuclear family instability are investigated. Results suggest stable three-generation family households are associated with child wellbeing whereas unstable or transitory three-generation households are not. Living in a stable threegeneration family household is associated with more externalizing and internalizing behavior problems as well as higher odds of being overweight. Stable three-generation coresidence is also associated with higher verbal scores. Differences by mother?s relationship status reveal a protective association with externalizing behaviors for stably partnered mothers but few interactive effects between nuclear and three-generation family instability. Overall, the results suggest that stable, but not unstable, three-generation family household coresidence is associated with child wellbeing.

Creation Date

2012-11

Section URL ID

CRCW

Paper Number

WP12-19-FF.pdf

URL

https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/sites/fragilefamilies/files/wp12-19-ff.pdf

File Function

Jel

D120, D630, I000, I320, J150

Keyword(s)

Parent Relationship Quality, Child Behavior, child wellbeing, Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study

Suppress

false

Series

8