National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) Pilot Data Series

This is a series of studies conducted by Knowledge Networks on behalf of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research, under the auspices of Bowling Green State University. Each study in this series examines the impact of economic factors on family and household relationships.

Familial Responses to Financial Instability, "It's All Your Fault": Predictors and Implications of Blame in Couples Under Economic Strain, 2009 [United States]
On behalf of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, Knowledge Networks conducted a survey about financial management behaviors among 600 opposite sex married or cohabiting couples. Both partners were invited to participate in the survey at the same time. The data collection began on August 18, 2009, and continued through August 24, 2009. A total of 2,495 panelists were invited to participate in the survey. Among the 1,595 (64%) who responded to the survey, 1,264 (51%) were eligible and completed the questionnaire. Measures included variables on partner/relationship satisfaction, financial problems, and blame. (more).

Familial Responses to Financial Instability, Doubling Up When Times Are Tough: Obligations to Share a Home in Response to Economic Hardship, 2009 [United States]
This study focused on household living arrangements of parents and adult children during times of financial instability. A survey of over 3,000 adults aged 18 years and older from the general population was conducted by Knowledge Networks on behalf of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research. The survey was completed by 3,132 respondents out of 4,478 cases (69.9 % response rate). Measures include variables on financial responsibility between children and parents and a vignette on an adult child living with his parents. (more).

Familial Responses to Financial Instability, How the Family Responds to Economic Pressure: A Comparative Study, 2009 [United States]
This study focused on how families respond to financial instability and economic pressure. A survey of over 1,000 adults aged 18 years and older who have a child younger than 18 years at home was conducted by Knowledge Networks on behalf of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. The survey was completed by 1,169 respondents out of 1,855 cases (63 percent response rate). In addition to the main survey, respondents were also administered a one-question survey about insurance. Measures included variables regarding income, financial stability, borrowing money, main expenditures, and health care coverage. (more).

Familial Responses to Financial Instability, The Financial Management Behaviors Scale, 2009 [United States]
This study focused on how financial difficulties may hinder or facilitate sound financial management. A survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 years and older from the general population was conducted by Knowledge Networks on behalf of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. The survey was completed by 1,014 respondents out of 1,517 cases (66.8 percent response rate). Although financial behavior research is common in the literature, no financial behavior scale exists that is both multi-dimensional and psychometrically validated. Using data from a national sample, this study developed and examined the psychometric properties of a new scale of financial management behaviors. The Financial Behavior Scale (FBS) displayed adequate reliability (alpha = .81). Further, it was highly associated with other measures of financial behavior and discriminated between financial behaviors and time use behaviors. Finally, the scale was highly predictive of savings, consumer debt, and investments. Thus, the FBS appears to be a reliable and valid scale of financial behaviors. (more).

Married and Cohabiting Couples, 2010 [United States]
The Married and Cohabiting Couples, 2010 NCFMR Pilot Data is a nationally representative sample of U.S. married and cohabiting adults aged 18-64. Data are available for 1,504 married individuals representing 752 married couples and 646 cohabiting individuals representing 323 couples. Basic demographic characteristics are available related to age, income, educational attainment, gender, and race, and individual- and couple-level data. The NCFMR Married and Cohabiting Couples pilot data offers rich data concerning relationship dynamics, both at the individual- and couple-levels including measures of relationship quality for both married and cohabiting individuals; measures of relationship stability, formation, and dissolution for married and cohabiting individuals; measures of role strain and conflict between work and family ties; measures concerning health decisions, power of attorney, and expected plan of care in later life; and detailed information on social support concerning each of these measures. (more).