Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parental structure experiences of children: Exposure, transitions, and type at birth

  • Parents And Parenthood
  • Published:
Population Research and Policy Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines parental structure experiences during childhood and adolescence of non-Hispanic whites, blacks, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans born 1957 to 1964. The study shows that the parental structure types most commonly experienced are mother-father, mother only, and mother-stepfather. The study also finds that a significant proportion of children move into a mother-only family and do not leave it. Finally, the study shows that the parental structure experiences of children are strongly influenced by their parental structure at birth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astone, N. & McLanahan, S.S. (1991). Family structure, parental practices, and high school completion,American Sociological Review 56: 309–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bane, M.J. (1976). Marital disruption and the lives of children,Journal of Social Issues 32: 103–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bean, F.D. & Tienda, M. (1987). The Hispanic population of the United States. New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bumpass, L.L. (1984). Children and marital disruption: A replication and update,Demography 21: 71–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bumpass, L.L. & McLanahan, S.S. (1989). Unmarried motherhood: Recent trends, composition, and black-white differences,Demography 26: 279–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bumpass, L. & Rindfuss, R.R. (1979). Children's experience of marital disruption,American Journal of Sociology 85: 49–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherlin, A.J., Furstenberg, F.F. Jr., Chase-Lansdale, P.L., Kiernan, K.E., Robins, P.K., Morrison, D.R. & Teitler, J.O. (1991). Longitudinal studies of effects of divorce on children in Great Britain and the United States,Science 252: 1386–1389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F.F. Jr., Nord, C.W., Peterson, J.L. & Zill, N. (1983). The life course of children of divorce,American Sociological Review 48: 656–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick, P.C. (1979). Children of divorced parents in demographic perspective,Journal of Social Issues 35: 170–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haurin, R.J. (1992). Patterns of childhood residence and the relationship to young adult outcomes,Journal of Marriage and the Family 54: 846–860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, D.J. (1993).America's children: Resources from family, government, and the economy. New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haveman, R., Wolfe, B.L. & Spaulding, J. (1991). Educational achievement and childhood events and circumstances,Demography 28: 133–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofferth, S.L. (1985). Updating children's life course,Journal of Marriage and the Family 47: 93–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, D.P. & Kitagawa, E.M. (1985). The impact of social status, family structure, and neighborhood on the fertility of black adolescents,American Journal of Sociology 90: 825–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krein, S.F. & Beller, A.H. (1988). Educational attainment of children from single-parent families: Differences by exposure, gender, and race,Demography 25: 221–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landale, N.S. & Hauan, S.M. (1992). The family life course of Puerto Rican children,Journal of Marriage and the Family 54: 912–924.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinson, B.C. & Wu, L.L. (1992). Parent histories: Patterns of change in early life,Journal of Family Issues 13: 351–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLanahan, S.S. (1985). Family structure and the reproduction of poverty,American Journal of Sociology 90: 873–901.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLanahan, S.S. (1988). Family structure and dependency: Early transitions to female household headship,Demography 25: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLanahan, S.S. & Bumpass, L.L. (1988). Intergenerational consequences of family disruption,American Journal of Sociology 94: 130–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael, R.T. & Tuma, N.B. (1985). Entry into marriage and parenthood by young men and women: The influence of family background,Demography 22: 515–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandefur, G.D., McLanahan, S.S. & Wojtkiewicz, R.A. (1992). The effects of parental marital status during adolescence on high school graduation,Social Forces 71: 999–1017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, J.A. (1991). Relationships between fathers and children who live apart,Journal of Marriage and the Family 53: 79–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweet, J.A. & Bumpass, L.L. (1987).American families and households. New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Bureau of the Census (1991). Family disruption and economic hardship: The short-run picture for children.Current Population Reports, Series P-70, No. 23. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wojtkiewicz, R.A. (1992). Diversity in parental structure experiences during childhood and adolescence,Demography 29: 59–68.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, 126 Stubbs, Louisiana State University, 70803, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Roger A. Wojtkiewicz

Authors
  1. Roger A. Wojtkiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roger A. Wojtkiewicz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wojtkiewicz, R.A. Parental structure experiences of children: Exposure, transitions, and type at birth. Popul Res Policy Rev 13, 141–159 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080200

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080200

Key words

Search

Navigation