The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a temporary increase in children living with grandparents and extended family members, underscoring the significance of multi-generational living during uncertain times
In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused an unforeseen rise of nearly 510,000 children dwelling in “doubled-up” households alongside additional adults beyond their parents. Notably, almost 460,000 of these children lived in multi-generational living arrangements, predominantly co-residing with grandparents.
A shift in multi-generational living arrangements
While a trend towards multi-generational living arrangements was gradually growing even before the pandemic, the Covid-19 impact led to an extraordinary six-fold surge in these arrangements between 2019 and 2020, as unveiled by U.S. Census data meticulously studied by Mariana Amorim and Natasha Pilkauskas.
Clear demographic patterns surfaced during this surge, primarily involving single mothers, unmarried or non-working mothers, and families with young children who opted for multi-generational living arrangements.
Moreover, this trend was particularly pronounced within Black and Hispanic families, highlighting the role of economic and instrumental support.
Family ties as a vital support system
Despite the health risks posed by sharing space with larger households during the pandemic, the research emphasises the importance of family bonds as an indispensable safety net in the United States.
The data suggests that economic and instrumental needs took precedence over concerns about exposing older relatives to COVID-19, leading to a choice for multi-generational living arrangements.
Preceding the pandemic, the recurring pattern of heightened multi-generational living arrangements aligned with seasonal cycles, typically peaking in fall and winter, synchronised with conventional birth and divorce patterns.
The disruption caused by the pandemic
However, the pandemic disrupted this rhythm, resulting in a surge during the spring and summer of 2020. This surge demonstrated its transitory nature, with living arrangements normalising by 2021, underscoring that multi-generational living arrangements are a pragmatic strategy rather than a permanent preference.
The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a fleeting yet impactful transformation in household dynamics, prompting numerous families, particularly single mothers and young children, to turn to extended family for support through multi-generational living arrangements.
Despite the risks, family ties emerged as a resilient safety net during these challenging times, highlighting the significance of collective support in the face of adversity.
