The remarriage rate in the U.S. has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years. In 1990, the remarriage rate was 50 per 1,000 previously marrieds (individuals divorced or widowed) versus 28 per 1,000 in 2015 (Figure 1). Although this represents roughly a 44% decline in the overall remarriage rate, the magnitude of the change over time varies considerably by age group. This profile updates FP-13-17 by combining data from the 1990 U.S. Vital Statistics and the 2015 American Community Survey to examine the change in the remarriage rate between 1990 and 2015 by age groups. Remarriage Rates Remarriage rates declined with age, although age variation was less pronounced in 2015 than 1990, reflecting convergence in the remarriage rate across age groups.

Over the past few decades, changes in family patterns have increased the diversity of children's living arrangements, including a gradual increase in children who are living in their grandparent's household. This profile updates FP-13-03 to examine trends in the proportion of children living in a grandparent-headed household and whether those children have a parent present in the household (e.g., three-generation household). Focusing on the child's perspective, this profile also examines the age distribution and poverty status of coresident grandchildren by the presence of a parent in

There is an ongoing debate over whether living apart together (LAT) relationships are simply long-term relationships or alternatives to cohabitation or marriage. This study examined cohabitation and marriage expectations among older adults who LAT in the United States to address the debate. The analyses also compared the marriage expectations of older adults who LAT and cohabitors. Using data from the 2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), we examined the union expectations of 250 individuals who LAT and 234 cohabitors. After providing a demographic portrait of older adults who LAT, we used ordered logistic regression models to predict their cohabitation and marriage expectations. Additional models predicted marriage expectations for older adults who LAT versus cohabitors. Older adults who LAT were unlikely to expect to formalize their unions. Adults who LAT were less likely to expect marriage than cohabitors. LAT relationships appear to be long-term partnerships in the United States.

The share of adults who live alone is on the rise (Vespa, Lewis & Kreider, 2013). In 2011, 13.4% of all adults in the U.S. were living alone, and the majority of those were single women aged 55 and older (FP-13-18). This Family Profile updates an earlier profile (FP-13-18) on living alone in 2011 to examine trends in living alone between 1990 and 2015. We focus on gender differences and marital status by age groups, using data from the 1990 census and the 2015 American Community Survey.

Objective This study compared the relationship quality of US midlife adults in dating, living apart together (LAT) relationships, cohabitation, and marriage. Background Unmarried partnerships are gaining ground in midlife but how these partnerships compare to each other and to marriage is unclear. From an incomplete institutionalization perspective, those in unmarried relationships, especially LAT relationships but also cohabitations, face challenges due to unclear relationship norms and expectations, which may eventuate in poorer relationship quality than that of the married. Alternatively, cohabitation and, by extension, LAT relationships offer flexibility and autonomy and thus may function as an alternative to marriage marked by comparable relationship quality. Method Data were drawn from the 2013 Families and Relationships Survey, a nationally representative survey of US adults. The analytic sample was composed of adults aged 50–65 in a partnership (N = 2166). Multivariable models compared the associations between relationship type (dating, LAT, cohabiting, and married) and relationship quality (happiness, support, commitment, disagreement, and instability). Results The incomplete institutionalization perspective was supported for LATs, who tended to report poorer relationship quality than marrieds. For cohabitors, this perspective received mixed support. Although cohabitors reported less happiness and commitment than marrieds, which aligned with the incomplete institutionalization perspective, the groups did not differ on relationship support, disagreement, or instability, supporting the cohabitation as an alternative to marriage perspective. Dating, LAT, and cohabiting relationships were remarkably alike. Conclusion This study has implications for understanding the shifting landscape of relationships in midlife which in turn may shape individual health and well‐being.