Socioeconomic Status and Intergenerational Living Arrangements
Author Information
Author(s): Ofstedal Mary Beth, Kim BoRin, Liang Jersey, Xu Xiao, Raymo James
Primary Institution: University of Michigan
Hypothesis
How do the socioeconomic statuses of older parents and their adult children affect their living arrangements over time?
Conclusion
The study found that lower income and assets increased the likelihood of parents and children living together, while higher education was linked to living further apart.
Supporting Evidence
- The predicted probability of coresidence increased from 1% to 4% over the study period.
- The probability of distant residence declined from 72% to 64% during the same time.
- Proximate residence remained stable at 27% to 32%.
Takeaway
This study shows that families with less money tend to live together more, while families with more education often live farther apart.
Methodology
The study used three-level hierarchical linear models to analyze data from the Health and Retirement Study over 20 years.
Limitations
The study is limited to parents over age 65 and their children over age 21, which may not represent all family dynamics.
Participant Demographics
Parents over age 65 and their children over age 21.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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