Citation

Wolf DA. Soc. Sci. Res. 1984; 13(1): 72-89.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0049-089X(84)90005-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper models the distribution of older women across household types, taking account of variations in the availability of kin, as well as other explanatory variables such as income and race. Household types are distinguished by the presence or absence in the household of siblings, parents, children, or others, including unrelated individuals. A modified multinomial logit model is used to represent the simultaneous effects of kin availability and other variables on the probability of living in each household type. The results indicate that while income is related to the propensity to live alone, the relationship appears to operate solely through the effect of income upon the propensity to share a household with close relatives. Older black women are shown to be more likely to live in extended-family households, holding constant both income and the availability of kin.