Population estimates of extended family structure and size.
BACKGROUND
Population-based estimates of biological family size can be useful for planning genetic studies, assessing how distributions of relatives affect disease associations with family history and estimating prevalence of potential family support.


METHODS
Mean family size per person is estimated from a population-based telephone survey (n = 1,019).


RESULTS
After multivariate adjustment for demographic variables, older and non-White respondents reported greater mean numbers of total, first- and second-degree relatives. Females reported more total and first-degree relatives, while less educated respondents reported more second-degree relatives.


CONCLUSIONS
Demographic differences in family size have implications for genetic research. Therefore, periodic collection of family structure data in representative populations would be useful.
Garceau
Anne
A
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892 , USA.
Wideroff
Louise
L
McNeel
Timothy
T
Dunn
Marsha
M
Graubard
Barry I
BI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005190:Family; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010375:Pedigree; D044382:Population Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis