Handout 8: The Family Life Cycle

The Family Life Cycle (Duvall & Miller)

(Adapted from The Marriage and Family Experience. Strong, B. and DeVault C. 5th ed. West Publishing Company, 1992)

Stage I: Beginning Families:

  • Married couple with no children
  • Average length of stafe is 2 to 3 years
  • Greatest marital satisfaction experienced

Stage II: Childbearing Families:

  • Childbearing about 30 months apart
  • Childrearing
  • Average 2 children/family
  • Half of women work outside of the home
  • Average length of stage is 2 years
  • Marital satisfaction begins to lessen (continues to decline through stage IV or V)

Stage III: Families with Preschool Children:

  • This family’s oldest child is 30 months to 6 years.
  • Deeply involved in childrearing
  • Average length of stage is 3 years

Stage IV: Families with School Children:

  • Family’s oldest child is between six and 13 years old.
  • With children in school, mom has more free time and most enter work force
  • Average length of stage is 7 years

Stage V: Families with Adolescents:

  • Oldest child is 13 to 20 years old
  • Marital satisfaction reaches its lowest point
  • Average length of stage is 7 years

Stage VI: Families as Launching Centers:

  • The first chld has been launches into the adult world
  • The stages lasts until the last child leaves home, average 8 years
  • Marital satisfaction begins to rise

Stage VII: Families in the Middle Years:

  • This stage lasts from the time the last child has left home to retirement
  • Commonly referred to as the “empty nest” stage
  • Sometimes adult children return home
  • Begin caretaking activities for elderly relatives, especially parents and parents-in-law

Stage VIII: Aging Families:

  • Working members of the family have retired
  • Chronic illnesses begin to take effect
  • Eventually one of the spouses dies
  • The surviving spouse may move in with other family members or be cared for by them.

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