As a result of these changes, families are now less stable than in previous generations.
Children often grow up with different parents - in stepfamilies, or with one parent figure
missing. These children are more likely to experience poverty, poor health and wellbeing
and be involved in antisocial behaviour.
Families will go on evolving. As more women have careers and seek more egalitarian
relationships, men and women frequently need to negotiate their roles within the family.
This is likely to be heightened as the economic downturn takes its toll on employment and
families have to be flexible about who is in work.