Relation of the Problem to the Preceding. -- The maladjustments
of the parent-child relation might be regarded as a fourth major
problem of the modern family, ranking with the reproductive, the
economic, and the love problem. In so far as the problem is economic,
we have already considered it in Chapter X. It remains to consider
the personal, interactional phases of the problem. These are better
considered as problems of adjustment in individual situations rather
than as alternative choices placed before society as a whole. There-
fore the problem has been deferred to this point, instead of treating
it in Part IV, as would otherwise have been done.

In Chapters XIV and XV we have already discussed certain prin-
ciples of interaction in the family, and the formation and adjustment
of personalities. These principles were discussed primarily with refer-
ence to the marital relation, but they also apply to relations between
a parent and a child, or between siblings. A great deal that might
belong in this chapter has therefore already been said.

Some Statistics regarding American Children. -- Our American pop-
ulation has been continually increasing in its average age. In 1850, persons
under 20 years of age constituted 52.5 per cent of the whole population;
in 1930, they were 38.8 per cent; and in 1980, according to the medium
estimate of Thompson and Whelpton, ¹ they will be only 26.7 per cent.
Persons of 65 and over were 2.6 per cent in 1850, 5.4 per cent in 1930, and
will be 12.1 per cent, by estimate, in 1980. The average child thus has a
greater number of adults to support him directly or indirectly.

About 5 per cent of a large mid-Western sample of native Americans
of the generation born about 1900 are "only" children, about 14 per cent
are members of two-child families, and 81 per cent of larger families. ² This
sample, being obtained from the families and near relatives of college stu-
dents, probably represents smaller than average families.

A census report of 1923 reported 205,000 American children in children's
institutions or receiving homes, 50,000 in free foster homes, 22,000 in board-
ing foster homes, 2500 in homes for unmarried mothers, and 2000 in alms-
houses. In addition 121,000 were in their own homes receiving aid by way

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