Grandparents Know Best: Multigenerational Coresidence and Psychological Distress during Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

• In Event: 381 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. Family Relationships

Abstract

A large body of research demonstrates that family structure in early childhood and adolescence has clear and consistent consequences for child well-being, but this body of research has failed to look at not only whether children live in multigenerational households but also both the timing and duration of time in these household structures. Using data from NLSY79 and the growth curve models, we examine how the experiences of living in a multigenerational household during childhood influence psychological distress during adolescents and young adulthood. We find that compared to young adults who had never lived in a multigenerational household, those who did experienced higher baseline psychological distress but their distress decreased more rapidly. Results also suggest that the exposure to multigenerational coresidence during specific critical periods is influential for change in psychological distress yet the duration only has marginal effects.

Authors

• Zhe Zhang, The Ohio State University

• Cynthia G. Colen, Ohio State University

• Corinne Reczek, The Ohio State University