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Research on multiple family transitions: An overview
1University of Pennsylvania.
Family Transitions (Philadelphia, Penn.)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Research shows family transitions are common and not always harmful. Understanding diverse family changes offers a more nuanced view of child and adult development across the life course.
Area of Science:
- Family Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Three decades of research on family transitions.
- Longitudinal surveys and conceptual models reveal common family complexity.
- Contemporary family structures are increasingly diverse.
Purpose of the Study:
- Overview of research on multiple family transitions.
- Examine implications for child and adult development and well-being.
- Discuss contributions of family transition research to family science.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of three decades of research.
- Analysis of longitudinal survey data.
- Synthesis of conceptual models in family science.
Main Results:
- Repeated family change and complexity are prevalent.
- Family transition research has shifted perspectives from uniformly harmful to nuanced.
- Understanding diverse forms and consequences of family change is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Future research should integrate structural inequalities.
- Broaden the scope of family transitions studied.
- Promote a nuanced understanding of family change impacts across the life course.
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