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Dissertation_Zhujun Cheng.pdf (1.07 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Homeownership and Marital Stability among Baby Boomers

Cheng, Zhujun
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3069-1442
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692372580451072

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Family Resource Management.
Homeownership and marital stability significantly influence various aspects of older Americans’ lives, including financial security, health outcomes, and overall quality of life. The generation born between 1946 and 1964 (Baby Boomers) has experienced transformative social, economic, and cultural changes throughout their lives. Understanding their housing choices and marital dynamics in later life stages provides valuable insights into the aging issues as Baby Boomers age. This dissertation focuses on the aging issues of Baby Boomers, specifically examining the topic of homeownership and marital stability within the context of the economic hardship caused by the Great Recession. It consists of three interconnected studies that explore these issues among Baby Boomers. In the first chapter, I outline the aim of this dissertation and provide the description of the methods, data, and key findings for each study. Chapters Two, Three, and Four provide detailed discussions of each study. Chapter Five provides the conclusion and highlights the key findings of this dissertation. In the second chapter, I investigate the recovery in homeownership rates among Baby Boomers following the Great Recession and examine homeownership trajectories in later life stages. Previous research has primarily focused on homeownership recovery among younger generations, with few studies exploring older cohorts such as Baby Boomers. This study uses the longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) covering periods from 1998 to 2018. By conducting the age-period-cohort (APC) analysis, I assess homeownership differences among older cohorts. The findings suggest that homeownership among the Early Baby Boomers (born 1948-1953) is significantly lower after the Great Recession compared to pre-recession levels. The third chapter explores the relationship between homeownership and marital stability among Baby Boomers in later life stages. Using the HRS data from 2004 to 2018 for three Baby Boomer cohorts, I examine the interactions between divorce, remarriages and homeownership. The study suggests that both divorced and remarried Baby Boomers exhibit lower homeownership rates compared to those in their first marriages. Furthermore, experiencing a divorce is associated with a lower homeownership in the short-term, while experiencing a remarriage does not influence homeownership in the short-term. In the fourth chapter, I investigate the marital stability of Baby Boomers during and after the Great Recession. This study also uses the HRS data, spanning before, during, and after the Great Recession, to compare the divorce rate differences within cohorts across three periods (before, during and after the Great Recession). I find that all cohorts, including the Baby Boomers, are less likely to experience marital dissolution during and after the Great Recession. These findings suggest that the older couples became more closely bonded in their marriage relationships during economic hardships caused by the Great Recession. Finally, Chapter Five summarizes the conclusions from the three conducted studies and highlights the interactions among them. The findings in this dissertation provide insights into the understanding of the complex relationship between homeownership and marital stability in the context of the Great Recession.
Tansel Yilmazer (Advisor)
Andrew Hanks (Committee Member)
Cäzilia Loibl (Committee Member)
Sherman Hanna (Committee Member)
145 p.
Economics; Social Research
Homeownership, Marital Stability, The Great Recession, Baby Boomers, HRS

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cheng, Z. (2023). Homeownership and Marital Stability among Baby Boomers [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692372580451072

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cheng, Zhujun. Homeownership and Marital Stability among Baby Boomers. 2023. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692372580451072.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cheng, Zhujun. "Homeownership and Marital Stability among Baby Boomers." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692372580451072

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1692372580451072
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.