Summary of Findings
Its principal focus is on the revival since 1980 of the multi-generational family household. It also chronicles a range of recent trends in the living arrangements of older adults, and it explores the correlation between living alone at an older age and various life experiences, including health, happiness and depression. The report is based on the Pew Research Center's analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data as well as our own public opinion surveys. For details on our methodology, see "About the Data" in the full report. Key findings: Read the full report at pewsocialtrends.org.This report documents major changes in family household living arrangements that have unfolded over the past three decades and accelerated during the Great Recession.
Multi-Generational Family Households
In 2008, an estimated 49 million Americans, or 16% of the total U.S. population, lived in a family household that contained at least two adult generations or a grandparent and at least one other generation. In 1980, this figure was just 28 million, or 12% of the population.But at a time of high unemployment and a rising foreclosures, the number of households in which multiple generations of the same family double up under the same roof has spiked significantly. Our report finds that from 2007 to 2008, the number of Americans living in a multi-generational family household grew by 2.6 million.
Living Arrangements of Older Adults