PSID Family Composition File: 1968-2017

The purpose of the Family Composition File is to document family structure stability and change over the early life course from the perspective of minor children. Specifically, the file describes the relatedness and co-residence status of a child's biological, adoptive, step- and social parents and siblings at each observed wave from birth to approximately age 19. It includes observations on sample children (i.e., those related by birth or adoption to original PSID householders) from all PSID interview years (1968-2017). The Latino sample (observed 1990-95, 1968 family interview numbers 7000-9309) is excluded.<br>Contents of the file are drawn from a variety of existing PSID data sources, including the Cross-Year Individual and Parent Identification files and the Marriage History and Childbirth and Adoption History files. The Family Composition file reorganizes the information available in these other files to present a unified record of family structure history from a child’s perspective.