This new report covers the following key issues:

• The changing face of the family: the decline in the rate of marriage, and the growth in cohabitation, lone parenting and step families
• Mothers' three shifts: paid work, domestic work and childcare
• Fathers and their role in children's development
• Parent-child relationships and changing external influences: parental control, discipline, the influence of the media and new technology, lifestyle-related health, and differing perceptions of risk
• Recession and its impact on family life
• Changing attitudes towards family structures

Drawing on a wide range of sources and illustrated with key statistics and accessible graphs and tables, this is an invaluable resource.

Summary of Contents
Introduction
1 - Major Demographic Trends
2 - Mothers, childcare and the work-life balance
3 - Fathers' involvement in family life
4 - Parent-child relationships: dependence and independence
5 - Recession and family relationships
Appendix
References
Index