Social Relations and the Life Course

This collection of essays represents some of the most important recent research into changing patterns of family, household and community life. It brings together some of the leading sociologists in the field to explore how these informal social relationships change over time and the life course. It will be essential reading on courses concerned with the family and youth sociology.

'There is no equivalent book on the market.' - Mary Langan, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Sub-Dean for Faculty of Social Sciences

MICHAEL ANDERSON Professor of Economic History, University of EdinburghSARA ARBER Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG), University of SurreyFRANK BECHHOFER Professor and University Fellow, Research Centre for Social SciencesNADIA JOANNE BRITTON Lecturer in Sociology, University of SheffieldRUTH BUTLER Lecturer in Applied Social Research, University of HullSARAH CHEESBROUGH PhD Graduate, University of SouthamptonFIONA DEVINE Professor of Sociology, University of ManchesterJEAN DUNCOMBE Senior Lecturer, School of Social Studies, University College, ChichesterEILEEN FARHURST Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityVAL GILES Research Fellow in Social Sciences, South Bank UniversityPETER HALFPENNY Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research, University of ManchesterSHEILA HENDERSON Visiting Fellow at the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank UniversityJANET HOLLAND Professor of Social Research and Director of the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank UniversityLYNN JAMIESON Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) and Reader in Sociology, University of EdinburghLIZ KENYON Senior Research Officer, National Foundation for Educational ResearchYAOJIN LI Research Fellow, Centre for Census and Survey Research, Manchester UniversityCATHERINE MACLEAN Lecturer in Sociology, University of EdinburghDENNIS MARSDEN Visiting Professor in the School of Social Studies, University College, ChichesterDAVID MCCRONE Co-Director of the Governance of Scotland Forum and Professor of Sociology, University of EdinburghSHEENA MCGRELLIS Senior Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank University (based at the University of Ulster)SARA MCNAMEEROSEMARY MELLOR Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Manchester until her death in 2001DAVID MORGAN Emeritus Professor, University of ManchesterJANE RIBBENS MCCARTHY Lecturer in Qualitative Research, Open UniversitySUE SHARPE Research Fellow at the Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of LondonTRACEY SKELTON Lecturer in Human Geography, Loughborough UniversityROBERT STEWART Consultant with MVA, EdinburghRACHAEL THOMSON Senior Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank UniversityGILL VALENTINE Professor of Geography, University of Sheffield