Because of geographical or emotional distance from extended families, a nuclear family must become self-sufficient by finding employment, nurturing the children, educating them, socializing them and providing necessities, such as shelter, food and health care. In fact, nuclear families must also prepare their children to become independent because legally, parents have no obligations to their offspring after age 18. Of course, the nuclear family often hovers nearby.
Self-sufficiency, however, can lead to isolation. When financial or health problems prevent nuclear families from meeting their responsibilities, they may find little support from their communities. Without extended families of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to take care of sick children, the nuclear family may feel abandoned. However, Dr. David M. Newman, author of a sociology textbook, notes that many nuclear families do stay in touch with a third generation for psychological and financial support. With social networking and messaging, the characteristic isolation of the nuclear family may be fading.
The traditional nuclear family often has secure finances. In two-parent families where both parents work, the combined income can provide advantages for the children. Typically, more American families in this category have decreased their debt and consulted with a financial advisor, according to Dr. Sandra Timmermann, writer for the Journal of Financial Service Professionals and Assistant Vice President for MetLife.
Nuclear families with sound finances and emotional stability can benefit their offspring, encouraging school achievement and self-esteem. Dr. Kathleen Berger, a Bronx community college professor, notes the increased likelihood that children from traditional nuclear families will attend college, have successful marriages and find satisfying employment.
The American nuclear family of the 1940s and 1950s featured stay-at-home moms raising their children, but later evolved as both parents joined the workforce, according to Robert Brym and John Lie, sociology professors. They note that the traditional nuclear family has declined. According to the 2010 United States census, the number of married couples with children decreased from 44% in 1960 to 21%. Despite this decline, the definition continues to expand to include diverse family units.