How We Live: Characteristics of Multigenerational Households among Asian Americans (2006-2018)

Background: Household structure is an important social determinant of health. Asian Americans are the race/ethnicity group most likely to live in multigenerational households, but little is known about which characteristics are associated with living in a multigenerational household among Asian Americans as a whole, or as disaggregated subgroups. Objective: We examined the characteristics associated with living in a multigenerational household among Asian Americans (aggregated and subgroups), compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Design: Cross-sectional study using the National Health Interview Survey (2006-2018). Participants: Our sample included 572,783 adults: 515,420 Non-Hispanic Whites, 11,113 Asian Indians, 11,864 Chinese, 13,000 Filipino, and 21,386 Other Asians. Main Measures: We used binary logistic regression to examine how living in multigenerational households (outcome) was associated with race and sociodemographic characteristics among the entire population and by race/ethnic subgroup. Key Results: Approximately 15% of the study population lived in multigenerational households. 12.4% and 24.0% of Non-Hispanic Whites and Asians respectively lived in multigenerational households. Filipinos had the highest (30.5%) and Asian Indians had the lowest (19.5%) proportion of people living in multigenerational households. Aggregated Asians had twice the odds compared to Non-Hispanic Whites of living in multigenerational households (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: [2.17-2.49]) Foreign born Asian Indians compared to U.S. born Asian Indians were less likely (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: [0.51-0.87]) to live in a multigenerational household. Foreign born Filipinos compared to U.S.-born Filipinos had twice the odds (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: [1.72-2.42]) of living in multigenerational households. Conclusions: Asian Americans are more likely to live in multigenerational households compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, although proportions vary by Asian subgroups. Characteristics associated with living in a multigenerational vary. Understanding the characteristics of multigenerational households in Asian Americans can inform public health practice.