Susan L. Brown

Tests competing hypotheses about the stability of same-sex versus different-sex cohabiting couples. Concludes that same-sex cohabiting couples typically experience levels of stability that are similar to those of different-sex cohabiting couples.

Provides a descriptive profile of changes in children’s living arrangements over a 13-year span (1996–2009). Shows that we have reached a plateau in family complexity and that complexity is concentrated among the most disadvantaged families.

Examines whether low levels of fathers’ involvement and coparenting were linked to negative trajectories of mothers’ and fathers’ relationship quality for couples whose first child was born in marriage or cohabitation. Discusses the importance of the father role, not only for the well-being of the child but also for the relationship of the parents. 

Looks at how cohabitation is on the rise among older unmarried adults, who are just as likely to form a cohabiting as a marital union. These partnerships are quite stable and are more likely to end through death of a partner than either marriage or separation.

Presents findings on the one-third of Baby Boomers who are unmarried. Unmarried Boomers experience more health, economic, and social vulnerabilities than do married Boomers, raising important questions about how society will care for this rapidly growing segment of the older adult population.

Finds that, despite the leveling in the overall rate of divorce in the U.S. population over the past 20 years, the rate of divorce among adults over age 50 has doubled since 1990. One-quarter of people divorcing today is age 50 or older.

Offers a review and critique of the past decade’s research on family structure, family instability, and child well-being with suggestions for future research and policy directions.

Shows that adolescents and their mothers often have disparate views of their family living arrangements, and this boundary ambiguity is more common in complex family forms such as cohabiting stepfamilies.