Diverse family living situations and child development: a multi-level analysis comparing longitudinal evidence from Britain and The United States

This study uses national data from both Great Britain and the United States to examine the relationship between children's family history and their educational and behavioural development. We use a multivariate, multi-level modelling strategy to estimate heterogeneity both within and between families. Our results show that associations between family living situations and children's well-being appear to be mediated by levels of human, financial and social capital available to children. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence that children with non-traditional family living experiences are any more likely to be negatively impacted in Britain than across the Atlantic where diverse living arrangements are more widespread.