Family Structure in the Preretirement Years

, This report, analyzing data from the Retirement History Study of preretirees aged 58-63, focuses on their living arrasgPnrents-cl~reflg Aouschold and generational composttion and size of family unlts-anrl on the sxpport of or contributions flom relatives outside the household, and the frequency of contacts with them. Lrvmg alone (or only with spouse if married) rather than wrth rclative,s acemed to bc the preferrcrl nrrangemcnt. Of all households in the sample, more than 25 percent were two-generation, but only about 5 prrcent had three or more lineal generations. Only 4 percent of all households ~nclutlccl a parent, 0ut as manu as 13 percent of the ncvcr-married men rlld so Contributtons from c?liltlren were most oftelt received by nonmarricd uxmcn. Only about 10 percent of the age group studied ctt?cm had no childrm or, were not in frcqrrent touch if theg had living chzldren. Although many fnctorx aret related to happiness, the data suggest that mo~c unhappy, lonely older prrsons are to be found among thosa who do not keep in close touch with rdrltivea than rrmonq those who do.