Family Structures and Trends

Family Structures

Nuclear Family: A heterosexual couple (a man and woman) who are married and live together with their dependent children.
Cohabitation: Two adults who are in a relationship and living together but are not married. They may or may not have children.
Lone-Parent: One adult (usually female) and their dependent children.
Household: A group of people living together who are not related (e.g., friends at university).
Singlehood: A person living on their own.
Reconstituted Family: Adults separate from a previous relationship and come together in a new relationship, bringing any children with them.
Vertically Extended Family: Three or more generations living together (e.g., grandparents, parents, and children).
Horizontally Extended Family: Those of the same generation living together (e.g., parents, aunt/uncle, and children).
Beanpole Family: A long and thin extended family, usually a grandparent, child, and grandchild.
Same-Sex Family: Two adults of the same gender who are in a relationship and who may have children.

First-Time Marriage Decrease:
- Between 1980 and 2008, the number of first-time marriages each year in England and Wales fell from around 350,000 to 250,000.
- Marriage has also been delayed, with the average age being 30 in the UK.