Cohabitation and Child Educational Outcomes: An Examination of Family Stability and Transition

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Family Background, Choice, and Segregation

Abstract

Family structure, especially single parented households, is often blamed for poor educational outcomes. However, this research often suffers from selection bias because the types of people who inhabit different family structures are inherently different. In this study, we start with people who are alike – parents who are cohabiting at the time of birth of the child in the study. We then track changes in family structure of those who started as cohabiters and compare educational outcomes over time. At the same time, we control for competing theories such as resources, selectivity, social capital and stressors. We find that family structure is not related to educational outcomes instead each other theoretical explanation except stressors plays a role.

Authors

• Shana L. Pribesh, Old Dominion University

• Mikaela J. Dufur, Brigham Young University

• Yuanyuan Yue, Old Dominion University