American Families and Households (Population of the United States in the 1980s : A Census Monograph Series)

Changes in family and household composition are part of every individual's life course. Childhood families expand and contract; the individual leaves to set up an independent household; he or she may marry, raise children, lose a spouse. These transitions have a profound effect on the economic and social well-being of individuals, and the relative prevalence of different living arrangements affects the very character of society. American families and Households takes advantage of the large samples provided by the decennial censuses to document recent major transformations in the individual life cycle and consequent changes in the composition of the American population. As James Sweet and Larry Bumpass demonstrate, these changes have been dramatic—rates of marriage and childbirth are down, rates of marital disruption are up, and those who can are more likely to maintain independent households despite the rapid acceleration of change during recent years, however, the authors find that contemporary trends are continuous with long-term changes in Western society. This meticulous work makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the American Family and the individual life experiences that are translated into the larger population experience.'Jim Sweet and Larry Bumpass provide detailed descriptions of three components of the households and families of Americans: family transitions; the prevalence of different family and household arrangements; and the economic and social circumstances of people living in different types of families and households....As a reference work, the volume is a gold mine, with many rich veins of useful information....Anyone interested in American families and how they have been changing will want to refer to this volume.'—American Journal of Sociology A Volume in the Russell Sage Foundation Census Series Changes in family and household composition are part of every individual's life course. Childhood families expand and contract; the individual leaves to set up an independent household; he or she may marry, raise children, lose a spouse. These transitions have a profound effect on the economic and social well-being of individuals, and the relative prevalence of different living arrangements affects the very character of society. American families and Householdstakes advantage of the large samples provided by the decennial censuses to document recent major transformations in the individual life cycle and consequent changes in the composition of the American population. As James Sweet and Larry Bumpass demonstrate, these changes have been dramatic-rates of marriage and childbirth are down, rates of marital disruption are up, and those who can are more likely to maintain independent households despite the rapid acceleration of change during recent years, however, the authors find that contemporary trends are continuous with long-term changes in Western society. This meticulous work makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the American Family and the individual life experiences that are translated into the larger population experience. "Jim Sweet and Larry Bumpass provide detailed descriptions of three components of the households and families of Americans: family transitions; the prevalence of different family and household arrangements; and the economic and social circumstances of people living in different types of families and households....As a reference work, the volume is a gold mine, with many rich veins of useful information....Anyone interested in American families and how they have been changing will want to refer to this volume." -American Journal of Sociology A Volume in the Russell Sage Foundation Census Series Changes In Family And Household Composition Are Part Of Every Individual's Life Course. Childhood Families Expand And Contract; The Individual Leaves To Set Up An Independent Household; He Or She May Marry, Raise Children, Lose A Spouse. These Transitions Have A Profound Effect On The Economic And Social Well-being Of Individuals, And The Relative Prevalence Of Different Living Arrangements Affects The Very Character Of Society. American Families And Households Takes Advantage Of The Large Samples Provided By The Decennial Censuses To Document Recent Major Transformations In The Individual Life Cycle And Consequent Changes In The Composition Of The American Population. As James Sweet And Larry Bumpass Demonstrate, These Changes Have Been Dramatic—rates Of Marriage And Childbirth Are Down, Rates Of Marital Disruption Are Up, And Those Who Can Are More Likely To Maintain Independent Households Despite The Rapid Acceleration Of Change During Recent Years, However, The Authors Find That Contemporary Trends Are Continuous With Long-term Changes In Western Society. This Meticulous Work Makes A Significant Contribution To Our Understanding Of The American Family And The Individual Life Experiences That Are Translated Into The Larger Population Experience. Jim Sweet And Larry Bumpass Provide Detailed Descriptions Of Three Components Of The Households And Families Of Americans: Family Transitions; The Prevalence Of Different Family And Household Arrangements; And The Economic And Social Circumstances Of People Living In Different Types Of Families And Households....as A Reference Work, The Volume Is A Gold Mine, With Many Rich Veins Of Useful Information....anyone Interested In American Families And How They Have Been Changing Will Want To Refer To This Volume. —american Journal Of Sociology A Volume In The Russell Sage Foundation Census Series Cover Title Page, Copyright Page Contents List of Tables List of Figures Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Marriage Chapter 3. The Never-Married Chapter 4. Married Couples Chapter 5. Incidence of Marital Disruption Chapter 6. The Formerly Married Chapter 7. Children Chapter 8. The Older Population Chapter 9. Households Chapter 10. Other Types of Households: Growth and Characteristics Chapter 11. Implications for the Future Bibliography Name Index Subject Index James A. Sweet And Larry L. Bumpass. For The National Committee For Research On The 1980 Census. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. 403-408.