Changing Patterns in Intimate Relationships and Family Structure

Race

Common physical characteristics of a group.

Ethnicity

Identity based on nationality or ancestry.

Culture

Values, beliefs, and practices shaping experiences.

Non-marital Birth Rate

39.8% of births to unmarried women by 2017.

Teenage Unmarried Birth Rate

80% of births to teenage mothers are unmarried.

Cohabitation

Living together in an intimate relationship without marriage.

Cohabiting Couples

Over 9 million unmarried couples cohabitating by 2020.

Delayed Marriage

Median marriage age increased to 28.1 for females by 2020.

Household Size

Average household size declined to 2.53 by 2020.

Birth Rate Decline

Current birth rate insufficient for population replacement.

Living Alone

36.2 million Americans lived alone by 2030.

Employed Mothers

Women employment rose from 23.8% in 1950 to 71.4% in 2018.

Same-Sex Marriage

Legalized nationwide in the U.S. in 2015.

Divorce Rate

Dramatic rise since 1965, highest in Western world by 1970s.

Cultural Competence

Effectiveness in working with diverse cultural groups.

Cultural Competence Components

Awareness, knowledge, and skills for cultural effectiveness.

Single Parent Households

Increase in households led by single parents.

Fertility Rates

Declining fertility rates contribute to household size changes.

Widowed Individuals

One reason for increased living alone statistics.

Divorce Trends

Divorce rates leveled off and declined after 1981.

Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage

62% of Americans supported same-sex marriage in 2017.