What do we mean by extended family? A closer look at hispanic multigenerational families.

This study examined an entire residential block of a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Southern California. The investigation focused on a comparison of the frequency of exiended and nonextended families using structural (household residents) and functional criteria (interaction and exchange) and the reasons nuclear families did not have their grandparents in those household units. Of 48 households, 8 units contained other elements besides the nuclear family. Of these eight, only five units contained the grandparents. Using functinal criteria, however, all were extended family households. A low number of multigenerational families based on the structural criterion may not reflect preference, but merely the physical limitation imposed by the number of children. The larger the size of the family, the higher the incidence of nuclear families because it is impossible for the grandparents to be in all their children's households. Unless variables that affect the availability of kin for an extended family, such as rate of fertility or housing availability, are controlled, the assumption that frequency of multigenerational family households reflects cultural or economic choices may be inaccurate.