title: Family Structure History: Links to Relationship Formation Behaviors in Young Adulthood.
abstract: Using data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=4,538), we examine the intergenerational link between parental family structure history and relationship formation in young adulthood. We investigate: (a) first, whether parental family structure history is associated with young adults' own relationship formation behaviors; (b) second, which dimensions of family structure history are most predictive of children's later relationship formation behaviors; and (c) third, if the association between family structure history and young adulthood relationship formation differs by gender. Our findings provide evidence of an intergenerational link between parent relationship histories and their offspring's own relationship formation behaviors in young adulthood, over and above confounding factors.
authors.affiliation: Child Trends 4301 Connecticut Ave, Suite 350 Washington D.C., 20008.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franzetta
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelar
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manlove