ABSTRACT
The living arrangements of American children have shifted dramatically during recent decades due to major demographic and socioeconomic hanges. This chapter begins by describing the most important demographic trends that have influenced the familial and socioeconomic ircumstances of children. Next, the chapter discusses the most important changes in the parental living arrangements of children that have occurred during recent decades, and that are projected to occur during the next few decades. Finally, the chapter presents data collected by the Census Bureau in 1987 describing in considerable detail the social, economic, and demographic circumstances of children as they relate to the parental living arrangements of children. Whereas this chapter focuses on basic data for children, Hernandez (1986) thoroughly reviewed past sociodemographic research on children and their families, and Watts and Hernandez (1982) presented a conceptual framework for child and family indicators, as well as an overall assessment of the availability of statistical data for a comprehensive set of child and family indicators.
