How architectural principles can help conceptualize and analyze breakups among intergenerational households

Guided by two architectural design principles—classifying structures by hierarchical ordering and identifying a central focal entity—we examined whether differences in the organization of intergenerational households predict their odds of breaking apart. We applied these principles by defining a generational hierarchy (first, second, third generation) and identifying the focal generation (household head). Using large, longitudinal data on intergenerational households, we found striking differences in breakup odds by generational ordering, focal generation, and race. White three-generation households headed by grandparents were most likely to break up, while Black skipped-generation households headed by grandparents were least likely to break up.

Peter D. Brandon, Danielle George-Lucas, Oleg Ivashchenko