Family structure and the reproduction of inequality: Parents' contribution to children's college costs.

TitleFamily structure and the reproduction of inequality: Parents' contribution to children's college costs.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsHenretta, JC, Wolf, DA, Van Voorhis, MF, Soldo, BJ
JournalSoc Sci Res
Volume41
Issue4
Pagination876-87
Date Published2012 Jul
ISSN Number1096-0317
Abstract

This article examines the role of family structure in the financial support parents provide for their children's college education. Data are from the Health and Retirement Study. We focus on aspects of family structure that affect parental support and estimate shared family variance in investments as well as within-family variation using a multilevel model. Family membership accounts for about 60% of the variance in payment of college costs. Small family size, living with both biological parents (compared to one biological parent and a stepparent), higher parental education, and having older parents are associated with greater parental expenditures.

DOI10.1016/j.ssresearch.2012.02.008
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23017857?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Parent educational background/Higher education/Higher education/Families and family life/Children and youth/Education finance/Education finance/Transfers

Endnote ID

69432

Alternate JournalSoc Sci Res
Citation Key7704
PubMed ID23017857
PubMed Central IDPMC3461181
Grant ListR01 AG024046 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG024046-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG024051 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG024051-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States