Family: The Most Significant Changes In The American Family

Family life has changed dramatically over the last century. The delay of marriage is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in American families. People are waiting until they have finished their education to marry, which has an impact on parenting when they become parents. Another significant change that has occurred in American families is the structure of a typical family, so much so that the typical family of a father, mother and 2.5 children has all but disappeared. The family structure can be the popular image of a mother, father and children or it can be a divorced mother or father and children or a mother or father and their partner and children. These are just two examples of the changes to the American family that have occurred. In families, children are usually most affected by these types of changes. Some of the changes to American families have been advantageous to children, while other changes have been not so advantageous to children. …show more content…
According to research family instability such as divorce or cohabitation can affect children throughout their entire lives (Cavanagh & Sullivan, 2009; Manning, 2015). Children who experience divorce “often transition to coresidential unions earlier than do others, report lower relationship quality, and are more likely to get divorced” (Cavanagh & Sullivan, 2009). Unfortunately for children, parents who cohabitate have a higher rate of separation than parents who are married (Manning, 2015). The higher rate of separation in cohabitating couples, has very similar effects as divorce does on children. Statically, those who cohabitate have less economic advantages and less formal education, both of which have been shown to have drastic effects on the wellbeing of children (Manning, 2015). Children who live in poor economic environments have less resources available to them for their education, and mental and physical health (Berk,