The Formation of Extended Households during Middle Age

Cross-sectional data on the composition of households do not allow for estimation of the incidence of certain household forms over a period of time. In this study data from the [U.S.] National Longitudinal Surveys of mature men are used to obtain an estimate of the incidence of extended households during middle age. The use of the longitudinal data generally indicates that the incidence of extended households over 10 years (1966-1976) is double the proportion found in a cross section (1966). Over the 10 years of this study 20% of white and 50% of black middle-aged couples were found to have formed extended households. (EXCERPT)