Family life cycle, economic well-being and marital disruption in black families
Hampton, R.L.
California Sociologist 5(1): 16-32
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0162-8712 PMID: 12266051 Document Number: 402299
The relationships among the family life cycle, economic well-being, and marital disruption among black families in the United States are explored. The data are taken from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and concern a sample of 575 black families that had both spouses present in 1968 and were followed up to 1974. Multiple classification analysis is used to identify the factors that are important predictors of marital disruption, and multiple regression analysis is used to examine the causal structures involved. The results suggest that the stage of the family life cycle is the strongest predictor of marital disruption. Economic well-being, as measured by family income, assets, and consumption, is also significant.