Race Differences in Changing Family Demographics in the 1980s

Abstract
Explores variables that can account for racial difference in timing of initiation of sexual activity, first marriage, first birth, & divorce, based on interview data from the National Survey of Family Growth (N = 5,778 black & 9,004 white respondents). The independent variables include adolescent living arrangements (single- vs two-parent), mother’s educational level, religion, region of the country, area of residency (urban, suburban, rural), birth cohort, & survey year (1982 or 1988). Although the results differ for the 4 dependent variables, the independent variables do not provide a satisfactory explanation of the differences between black & white family formation & dissolution. Blacks & whites may be responding to different structural & cultural constraints not easily captured by basic demographic variables. 2 Tables, 4 Figures, 39 References. Adapted from the source document.