Final answer:
Multigenerational families in the U.S. have seen an increase from 49 million individuals in 2010 to 64 million in 2016. This reflects changing family structures, including extended family living arrangements and evolving expectations among Millennials compared to earlier generations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multigenerational Families in the U.S.
The concept of multigenerational families in the United States has evolved significantly over time. After World War II, the prevalence of such families declined, reaching a low around 1980.
However, a resurgence has been observed with a 2010 Pew Research Center analysis indicating that 49 million Americans lived in multigenerational households, a record at that time. By 2016, this number grew to 64 million, comprising roughly 20% of the population.
Beyond the traditional two-generation household, there's also the extended family structure where children live with guardians such as grandparents, other relatives, or nonrelatives, accounting for various modern family dynamics. For instance, in 2010, about 4% of all children lived with a guardian who was neither their biological nor adoptive parent, with 54% living with grandparents.
Changes in family structures include increasing numbers of unmarried couples, same-sex couples, single-parent households, and expanded households with extended family members living together.
Also noteworthy is the shift in living situation expectations as evidenced by Millennials, with 45% of 40-year-olds not living in a family of their own, a significant contrast to previous generations.