AN EXAMINATION OF EXTENDED FAMILY RESIDENCE SHARING PREDISPOSITIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES - 1973-1989

This study examined attitudes toward parents and their grown children sharing common households, as an indicator of extended family living a rrangement, based on nine national surveys conducted from 1973 through 1989. Using probability sampling procedures, samples were drawn from a population of persons over the age of 18 years and residing in non-i nstitutional settings in the United States. The results indicated that approval of this living arrangement increased over 19 percent between 1973 and 1984. It was also found that respondents who were younger, B lacks, Catholics, and those who had a greater degree of interaction wi th their parents or siblings had the highest approval of parents shari ng homes with their adult children. Socioeconomic factors and religios ity-measured by the frequency of attendance in religious service-had n o influence on such attitudes. Directions for future research and poli cy implications are discussed.