Like father, like son? Family instability across generations

What are the intergenerational dynamics of family stability? According to the most recent findings of the American Family Survey—a joint project of Deseret News and the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University—individuals who experience stable family life as a child are more likely to enjoy family and economic stability as adults. The American Family Survey provides an annual exploration of attitudes about marriage and family, chronicling shifting attitudes across generations about the meaning and value of marriage in American society. This year’s survey delves into issues of family stability and social connectedness, uncovering some counterintuitive connections between economic stability and voter preferences in the 2016 primaries.

On October 20, 2016, Deseret News and the Center on Children and Families at Brookings hosted a discussion on contemporary family economic stability and its implications for policies and politics in 2016. A presentation of the survey’s findings was followed by a moderated discussion featuring experts in marriage and family formation.