Introduction
Background
The American society has seen a dramatic change from early, stable and nearly universal marriage pattern to increasing rate of marital dissolution in the past 60 years (Cavanagh and Huston 2008; Kobrin and Waite 1984). In the meantime, family structure has been largely impacted by the rising rates of divorce, remarriage, nonmarital cohabition and out-of-wed childbearing. As a result, a growing number of American children are experiencing increasingly diverse and complex living arrangements (Brown 2006). Today, more than 40% of children are born to unmarried mothers, and over 50% of them are born to cohabiting couples (Maning, Brown, and Stykes 2016).
It is important to recognize that children who are born out of wedlock face a greater risk of family instability during childhood compared to those who are born to married couples (Manning 2015; Raley and Wildsmith 2004). A growing body of literature shows that …show more content…
The experiences of one generation affect the experiences of younger generations (Elder 1998). In particular, adults’ transition into parenthood and the stability of parental relationships influence their children’s experiences (Högnäs and Thomas 2016). Previous literature on the links between childhood family structure and its impact has established three pathways: social learning, social control, and instability (Albrecht and Teachman 2003; Amato 2000; McLanahan and Sandefur 1994; Teachman 2004; Wu 1996; Wu and Martinson 1993). In particular, Amato (1996) developed a useful model for explaining mechanisms through which parental divorce may affect subsequent marital instability. This model suggests that parental divorce affects the risk of offspring divorce through three mediating mechanisms: life course and socioeconomic variables, commitment and attitudes toward divorce, and patterns of interpersonal behavior (Teachman
Background
The American society has seen a dramatic change from early, stable and nearly universal marriage pattern to increasing rate of marital dissolution in the past 60 years (Cavanagh and Huston 2008; Kobrin and Waite 1984). In the meantime, family structure has been largely impacted by the rising rates of divorce, remarriage, nonmarital cohabition and out-of-wed childbearing. As a result, a growing number of American children are experiencing increasingly diverse and complex living arrangements (Brown 2006). Today, more than 40% of children are born to unmarried mothers, and over 50% of them are born to cohabiting couples (Maning, Brown, and Stykes 2016).
It is important to recognize that children who are born out of wedlock face a greater risk of family instability during childhood compared to those who are born to married couples (Manning 2015; Raley and Wildsmith 2004). A growing body of literature shows that …show more content…
The experiences of one generation affect the experiences of younger generations (Elder 1998). In particular, adults’ transition into parenthood and the stability of parental relationships influence their children’s experiences (Högnäs and Thomas 2016). Previous literature on the links between childhood family structure and its impact has established three pathways: social learning, social control, and instability (Albrecht and Teachman 2003; Amato 2000; McLanahan and Sandefur 1994; Teachman 2004; Wu 1996; Wu and Martinson 1993). In particular, Amato (1996) developed a useful model for explaining mechanisms through which parental divorce may affect subsequent marital instability. This model suggests that parental divorce affects the risk of offspring divorce through three mediating mechanisms: life course and socioeconomic variables, commitment and attitudes toward divorce, and patterns of interpersonal behavior (Teachman