Navigating Family Transitions: Evidence from the General Social Survey - ARCHIVED

Articles and reports: 89-625-X2007002

Description:

Over the past few decades, important social, economic and demographic changes have transformed the lives of Canadians: the decline and control of fertility, the legalization of divorce, an increase in common-law unions, and the entry of women in huge numbers into the labour market. In turn, these transformations have been examined in order to bring to light the extent and consequences of these changes on the family environment.

Given these changes and trends, the 2006 General Social Survey addressed the question of how young Canadian families are negotiating key transitions on the early years of family life. The nature and timing of transitions such as the establishment and advancing of a career, moving out of the parental home, marriage or common-law union, accumulating assets such as a car or house, family formation and the dissolution of a common-law union or marriage, may be changing as the Canadian economic and social context changes. In addition, the survey explores the kinds of resources young families need and use as they move through these important family transitions.

This report focuses on two of these key transitions, analyzing first the experiences of respondents who have had, or adopted, a child between 2001 and 2006, and secondly, examining the experiences of those who have had a separation or divorce during that same period. For both transitions, the analysis provides a brief description of those who experienced the change, then explores the services and resources that were used to help families as they move through these transitions.

Issue Number: 2007002
Author(s): Beaupré, Pascale; Cloutier, Elisabeth
FormatRelease dateMore information
HTMLJune 13, 2007
PDFJune 13, 2007