The Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch (DBSB) supports research on families and households, the influence of families and other contextual factors on child well-being and development, and the intergenerational transmission of attributes, behaviors, and resources within families.
Family Research
In the area of
family, specific topics include the following:
- Marriage, cohabitation and divorce;
- Household formation and dissolution;
- Family structure and household composition;
- Father involvement and child support;
- Family processes and relationship dynamics;
- Division of labor in families and households;
- Work/family interactions and child care;
- Population trends and differentials related to families and households;
- Multi-level influences on family and household processes, including biology and health, as well as economic, cultural (e.g., gender), spatial, and institutional factors; and
- Effects of law, public policy, and interventions on family structure and processes.
For more information and initiatives related to family research, see:
Research on Children
Specific topics related to
children include the following:
- Population trends and differences in the health and well-being of children; indicators of child well-being at the population level;
- Effects of families and social contextual factors (e.g., family and neighborhood poverty, institutions, law, public policy) on child well-being, health, and development from birth through adolescence (link to SEED PAs); and
- Transition to adulthood and the development of human capital.
For more information and initiatives related to research on children, see:
Intergenerational Research
In the area of
intergenerational research, specific topics include the following:
- Family investment in children;
- How families transmit characteristics, attitudes, behavior, knowledge, and resources across generations;
- Implications of intergenerational transmissions or transfers for the health, well-being and life course of the individuals involved; and
- Effects of public policy and intervention programs on intergenerational behavior.
For more information and initiatives related to intergenerational research, see:
Contact: Jeff Evans