The traditional multigenerational household, where multiple generations of a family live together, has declined significantly over the years. The decline continued, with the share of the US population living in multigenerational households falling from 21-25 percent during World War II to 12 percent by 1980.
This shift has resulted in children missing out on valuable life lessons and experiences from their grandparents, as well as mothers being left to care for their children without the support and guidance of older generations. The introduction of the Social Security system, which aimed to support the elderly without their children's help, contributed to this decline, as children began to move away and form their own nuclear families.
The economic shock of the late 1970s further exacerbated the issue, leading to a significant increase in households where both parents work full-time, from 31 percent in 1975 to 52 percent in 2025. This trend has intensified in recent years, with many mothers being forced to become full-time workers to make up for declining real income.
The decline of the multigenerational household has also led to a loss of experience and knowledge, as children are no longer able to learn from their grandparents and other older relatives.