Exploring multigenerational co-residence in the United States
International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis
ISSN: 1753-8270
Article publication date: 21 October 2022
Issue publication date: 22 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the increasing trend of multigenerational co-living in the USA and to research the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of such decision.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the 2017 American Housing Survey data to run descriptive and regression analysis.
Findings
The authors find household income appears consistently to be the most significant factor determining multigenerational co-residence decision across all household compositions. Latino households are most likely to co-reside with multiple generations, followed by Asian and African American households. Immigrants tend to live in multigenerational co-residential housing units with smaller sizes and more impoverished neighborhoods, but show greater flexibility in making residential arrangements once they gain better education. In addition, older householders or female householders are significantly more likely to co-reside with multiple generations. Living in metropolitan areas has no impact on co-residence choice, although some evidence suggests that multigenerational co-residential families tend to live in inferior neighborhoods.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides updated evidence on multigenerational co-residence choice in the contemporary United States. The findings provide evidence on how households make residential choices in response to financial hardships and contribute to the theoretical understanding of the variations of such decisions among immigrants and different ethnic and aging groups.
Practical implications
This study on multigenerational co-residence choice imposes important practical implications. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic creates ideal research setting to study how households cope with the tremendous uncertainties in the job markets and financial markets. Although multigenerational co-living may work well for some households with lower or moderate-income for financial reasons, it is not an attractive option for every family.
Social implications
Sharing a home with multiple generations can be challenging. Policymakers should design policies and programs to provide households with guidance on how to live peacefully in multigenerational settings and make multigenerational co-living an appealing and cost-effective housing option for American families of all means.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature by providing new evidence on the determinants of multigenerational co-residence decision. This study’s findings are fundamental to guide policymakers in carrying out policies and programs aimed at providing a more appealing and cost-effective housing arrangement for American families. The evidence on the senior and minority subsamples are especially meaningful as the vast majority of the baby boom generation in the USA is aging and substantial growth is expected in multigenerational households over the next several decades. Understanding the increasing burden of old-age depression in aging societies will help policymakers prioritize public resources in city planning to address the needs of this rapidly growing population.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Statements and declarations: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data.2017.List_1739896299.html
The authors declare that no funds, grants or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
The authors have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose.
We thank the editor, Prof. Richard Reed, and the two anonymous referees of the International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis for their efforts.
Citation
He, W. and Jia, S. (2024), "Exploring multigenerational co-residence in the United States", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 517-538. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-06-2022-0089
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited