SEATTLE – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, about 510,000 children found themselves living with their grandparents.
A new study led by Washington State University found that the number of multigenerational families that were accumulating increased pre-COVID, but the pandemic led to even greater growth beyond what was expected.
“During COVID, there was a much larger increase, of just over a fraction of a percentage point, in the number of young people living in those households,” said Mariana Amorim, an assistant professor of sociology at WSU.
In 2015, about 15. 3% of young people lived in such families, with an average increase of about 0. 1% per year. From 2019 to 2020, the number of young people in those families increased from 15. 7% to 16. 3%, a six-fold increase. Bigger than expected.
“So many parents didn’t have access to school or daycare or didn’t go to school to reconcile worrying about their children and running, that we expected to live with grandparents; perhaps it was more prevalent among the more advantaged groups in society,” Amorim added.
In both cases, before and after COVID, other people following this lifestyle were single mothers, single mothers, non-working mothers, and families with children under the age of 6.
“It’s more commonly targeted at black and Hispanic mothers than white mothers, and that’s been the case in the U. S. as well. “We are not going to be able to do anything about the U. S. ,” Amorim said.
The researchers say that demographic data suggests that the increase in cohabitation was due to the need for economic or other means, such as childcare. Desires outweigh fears of transmitting COVID-19 to grandparents.
“Living in crowded families and living with seniors puts seniors at risk to their health, and very serious threats,” Amorim said. “So, it shows the importance of grandparents and shows how that circle of family needs can literally outweigh health. “concerns. “
Researchers say this is a testament to the strength and importance of family ties as a safety net in the United States.
The researchers found that the accumulation in those living situations is temporary, and that the numbers will return to expected levels in 2021.
“For the most part, Americans have no preference for living together in multigenerational households,” Amorim said. “Grandparents step in to help. Once the crisis is over, they pull out, and that’s what we’re seeing. “
Amorim added that the studies looked at month-over-month trends in the U. S. He said there is a transparent seasonal trend of co-residence with grandparents that increases in the winter and decreases in the summer and repeats each year. Researchers are trying to determine whether this is due to trends in marriage, divorce or even access to safety nets and how this varies by year.