There are many different reasons cause a serious change in the family structure as the following:

  1. State education has meant that people tend to be more well-educated and knowledgeable and may want a better standard of living.
  2. The role of women has changed in that they have become better educated, more independent and able to leave home without necessarily being married.
  3. Families have generally become smaller – this is on average – of course there will always be families with larger numbers of children. 
  4. People are more mobile in terms of their willingness to move to be nearer their jobs. 
  5. People are more likely to work, which makes them more independent financially and able to afford their own homes.
  6. Family planning and contraception has meant that people can decide when or if to have children. 
  7. Improved transport has meant that people can move away from their families.