Three Generation Family Households: Prevalence and Correlates among Fragile Families

Natasha Pilkauskas, Columbia University

Multigenerational family households have increased in prevalence since the 1980s. Some research has documented trends in multigenerational family households and looked at predictors of living in these households. Less is known about one particular type of multigenerational family household - three generation family households that currently make up about half of all multigenerational family households and are more likely to include children. In this study I use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to document the prevalence of three generation families in a recent urban birth cohort using five waves of data. Preliminary results suggest that nearly one fifth of children born in large cities reside in three generation family households during their first year of life and that prevalence of three generation family households decreases as children age. Relationship status, mother’s age, immigrant status and race are all correlated with living in a three generation family household.