Question

question 13
what criterion is used to differentiate the stages of family?

number of children
age of parents
involvement of grandparents
age of children

Explanation:

Identify the core developmental framework

The question asks for the criterion used to differentiate the stages of a family. In Life Span Development and family sociology, the standard model used to describe how families change over time is Evelyn Duvall's Family Life Cycle theory.

Analyze the stages of the family life cycle

Duvall's model outlines eight distinct stages of family development:

1. Married couples (without children)
2. Childbearing families (oldest child birth to 30 months)
3. Families with preschool children (oldest child 30 months to 6 years)
4. Families with school-age children (oldest child 6 to 13 years)
5. Families with teenagers (oldest child 13 to 20 years)
6. Families launching young adults (first child gone to last child leaving)
7. Middle-aged parents (empty nest to retirement)
8. Aging family members (retirement to death of both spouses)

Determine the primary differentiating criterion

Looking at the transitions between stages 2 through 6, the boundaries and definitions of each stage are explicitly determined by the age of the oldest child (or simply the age of the children). The age of the parents or the number of children do not define these developmental milestones in this standard model. Therefore, the age of children is the primary criterion used to differentiate these stages.

Answer:

• Number of children
• Age of parents
• Involvement of grandparents
• Age of children (Correct answer)