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Exploring Cross-Domain Instability in Families with Children

Publication Date

Studies in a range of disciplines document high levels of instability for many families and the negative effects this insecurity can have on child development, adult well-being, and family self-sufficiency. This study examines the nature and extent of instability for children and their families using nationally representative data on nearly 15,000 children. By exploring measures of instability across domains—including employment, income and earnings, children’s health care coverage status, residential moves, and changes in family and household composition—we document how frequently children across socioeconomic status (SES) experience change, using household education as a proxy for SES.

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Populations
Children