Racial-Ethnic Differences in Nuclear and Extended Family Relations in the United States

Bettina Hünteler, University of Cologne
Karsten Hank, University of Cologne
Diego Alburez-Gutierrez, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Thomas Leopold, University of Cologne

Building on the intergenerational solidarity paradigm, previous research identified distinct types of adult parent-child relationships. This study emphasizes the importance of extended family alongside nuclear kin as well as racial-ethnic differences, aiming to develop a comprehensive typology of family relationships across various kin types. Using recent KINMATRIX data we examined relationships with the respondent’s father, mother, siblings, half-siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, distinguishing between gender and maternal and paternal lineage. A bias-adjusted three-step latent class analysis was applied to 74,603 relationships for 4,635 anchors living in the U.S., including measures of functional, affectual, structural, and associational solidarity, as well as conflict. Five relationship patterns emerged, differing significantly by kin type and race-ethnicity. 'Ambivalent' relations were the least common, mostly found in nuclear kin, while 'tight-knit' relations were most prevalent among parents. 'Detachted' and 'Intimate but distant' ties were more common among extended kin. Although 'close' relationships were less likely to be found in cousins, the absolute number of 'close' cousins was similar to that of 'close' siblings, underscoring the importance of the demographic availability of kin. Hispanics and Blacks were more likely to have 'Close' and less likely to have ‘Detached’ relations, however, with important variations by kin type.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Gender Dynamics, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations

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