Nativity, duration of residence and the life course pattern of extended family living in the USA

Recent changes in US immigration policy and domestic welfare policies affecting immigrants have led to concerns that families will face greater pressure to provide for extended family members. Extended family households are important resources for new immigrants to the USA and an integral part of the adaptive strategy of immigrants. This paper examines the competing roles of duration of residence in the USA, aging and changes over time in explaining increases in extended family living between 1980 and 1990. The results from a pooled sample of 1980 and 1990 Census data indicate that recent arrivals are more likely to share households with extended kin but it is older immigrants who face an increased likelihood of such coresidence over time. Multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrates that the life course pattern of coresidence remains when changes in socioeconomic status are controlled. The results suggest that policy changes limiting public funds available to new arrivals will have a larger impact on families sponsoring older family members.