Pamela J. Smock
Research Professor, PSC
Professor, Sociology
Professor, LSA Women's Studies
- pjsmock@umich.edu
- 734-764-6324
- 1006G ISR
- CV (PDF)
- Google Scholar Profile
- ORCID
BIO
Pamela Smock is a social demographer, and has published on an array of topics relating to family patterns and change in the U.S. These include unmarried cohabitation; the economic consequences of divorce and marriage for women, men and children; nonresident fatherhood; child support; the motherhood wage penalty; children's economic well-being in various family structures; and racial/ethnic differences in family patterns. Her research has been supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Dr. Smock is the a former President of the Association of Population Centers and has served on the Board of Directors of the Population Association of America. She is currently Editor of the journal Demography.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Christine R. Schwartz. 2020. "The Demography of Families: A Review of Patterns and Change." Journal of Marriage and Family 82(1): 9-34.
- Manning, Wendy D., Pamela J. Smock, and Marshal Neal Fettro. 2019. "Cohabitation and Marital Expectations Among Single Millennials in the U.S." Population Research and Policy Review 38(3).
- Wise, Akilah, Arline T. Geronimus, and Pamela J. Smock. 2017. "Best of Intentions: A structural analysis of the association between socioeconomic disadvantage and unintended pregnancy in a sample of mothers from the NLSY79." Women's Health Issues 27(1): 5-13.
- Kroeger, Rhiannon A., and Pamela J. Smock. 2014. "Cohabitation: Recent Research and Implications." Pp. 217-235 in The Wiley Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Families, edited by Judith Treas, Jacqueline Scott, Martin Richards. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.
- Manning, Wendy, Pamela J. Smock, Cassandra Dorius, and Elizabeth Cooksey. 2014. "Cohabitation Expectations Among Young Adults in the United States: Do They Match Behavior?" Population Research and Policy Review 33(2): 287-305.
- Hayford, Sarah, Karen Guzzo, and Pamela J. Smock. 2014. "The Decoupling of Marriage and Parenthood? Trends in the Timing of Marital First Births, 1945-2002." Journal of Marriage and Family 76(3): 520-538.
- (Lavelle) Pavelle, Bridget, and Pamela J. Smock. 2012. "Divorce and women's risk of health insurance loss." Journal of Health and Social Behavior 53(4): 413-431.
- Bachrach, Christine A., Pamela J. Smock, and Lynette F. Hoelter. 2011. "Social Class and the Timing and Context of Childbearing." Pp. 87-110 in Understanding Family Change and Variation: Toward a Theory of Conjunctural Action, edited by Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, Christine Bachrach, S. Philip Morgan, and Hans-Peter Kohler. Springer.
- Huang, Penelope M., Pamela J. Smock, Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, and Wendy Manning. 2011. "He Says, She Says': Gender and Cohabitation." Journal of Family Issues 32(7): 876-905.
- Manning, Wendy, Jessica A. Cohen, and Pamela J. Smock. 2011. "The Role of Romantic Partners, Family, and Peer Networks in Dating Couples' Views about Cohabitation." Journal of Adolescent Research 26(1): 115-149.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Wendy Manning. 2010. "New Couples, New Families: The Cohabitation Revolution in the United States." in Families as They Really Are, edited by Barbara J. Risman. New York : W.W. Norton.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Fiona Rose Greenland. 2010. "Diversity in Pathways to Parenthood: Patterns, Implications, and Emerging Research Directions." Journal of Marriage and Family 72(3): 576-593.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Elyse Ann Jennings. 2009. "Money and Couple Relationships." in Encyclopedia of Human Relationships, edited by Harry T. Reis, Susan Sprecher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Manning, Wendy, Pamela J. Smock, and Cava Bergstrom-Lynch. 2009. "Cohabitation and Parenthood: Lessons from Focus Groups and In-Depth Interviews." Pp. 115-142 in Marriage and family: perspectives and complexities, edited by H. Elizabeth Peters and Claire M. Kamp Dush. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Osborne, C., Wendy Manning, and Pamela J. Smock. 2007. "Married and cohabiting parents' relationship stability: A focus on race and ethnicity." Journal of Marriage and Family 69(5): 1345-1366.
- Manning, W. D., and Pamela J. Smock. 2005. "Measuring and modeling cohabitation: New perspectives from qualitative data." Journal of Marriage and Family 67(4): 989-1002.
- Smock, Pamela J., Wendy Manning, and Meredith Porter. 2005. ""Everything's There Except Money": How Money Shapes Decisions to Marry Among Cohabitors." Journal of Marriage and Family 67(3): 680-696.
- Avellar, Sarah, and Pamela J. Smock. 2005. "The Economic Consequences of the Dissolution of Cohabiting Unions." Journal of Marriage and Family 67(2): 315-327.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Mary C. Noonan. 2005. "Intersections: Gender, Work, and Family Research in the United States." in Work, Family, Health and Well-being, edited by Suzanne M. Bianchi, Lynne M. Casper, and Rosalind Berkowitz King. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
- Gupta, Sanjiv, Pamela J. Smock, and Wendy Manning. 2004. "Moving out: Transition to nonresidence among resident fathers in the United States, 1968-1997." Journal of Marriage and Family 66(3): 627-638.
- Smock, Pamela J. 2004. "The Wax and Wane of Marriage: Prospects for Marriage in the 21st Century." Journal of Marriage and Family 66(4): 966-973.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Wendy Manning. 2004. "Living Together Unmarried in the United States: Demographic Perspectives and Implications for Family Policy." Law and Policy 26(1): 87-117.
- Manning, Wendy, Pamela J. Smock, and Debarun Majumdar. 2004. "The Relative Stability of Cohabiting and Marital Unions for Children." Population Research and Policy Review 23(2): 135-159.
- Manning, Wendy, Susan Stewart, and Pamela J. Smock. 2003. "The Complexity of Fathers' Parenting Responsibilities and Involvement with Nonresident Children." Journal of Family Issues 24(5): 645-667.
- Avellar, Sarah, and Pamela J. Smock. 2003. "Has the Price of Motherhood Declined Over Time? A Cross-Cohort Comparison of the Motherhood Wage Penalty." Journal of Marriage and Family 65(3): 597-607.
- Stewart, Susan, Wendy Manning, and Pamela J. Smock. 2003. "Union Formation Among Men in the US: Does Having Prior Children Matter?" Journal of Marriage and Family 65(1): 90-104.
- Manning, Wendy, and Pamela J. Smock. 2002. "First Comes Cohabitation and Then Comes Marriage." Journal of Family Issues 23(8): 1065-1087.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Sanjiv Gupta. 2002. "Cohabitation in Contemporary North America." in Just Living Together: Implications for Children, Families and Public Policy, edited by Alan Booth and Ann C. Crouter. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.
- Manning, Wendy, and Pamela J. Smock. 2000. "Swapping Families? Serial Parenting and Economic Support for Children." Journal of Marriage and Family 62(1): 111-122.
- Smock, Pamela J. 2000. "Cohabitation in the United States: An Appraisal of Research Themes, Findings, and Implications." Annual Review of Sociology 26: 1-20.
- Manning, Wendy, and Pamela J. Smock. 1999. "New Families and Nonresident Father-Child Visitation." Social Forces 78(1): 87-116.
- Smock, Pamela J., Wendy Manning, and Sanjiv Gupta. 1999. "The Effect of Marriage and Divorce on Women's Economic Well-Being." American Sociological Review 64(6): 794-812.
- Sanchez, Laura, Wendy Manning, and Pamela J. Smock. 1998. "Sex-Specialized or Collaborative Mate Selection? Union Transitions Among Cohabitors." Social Science Research 27(3): 280-304.
- Smock, Pamela J., and Wendy Manning. 1997. "Cohabiting Partners' Economic Circumstances and Marriage." Demography 34(3): 331-341.
- Akilah Wise and Pamela Smock consider what 'unintended' pregnancy really means.
- Smock shows women perform significantly more and different types of housework than men. Could strategic absences help partners with burnout?
- Smock & Schwartz review the past decade of demographic trends and research on families in the United States
- Smock comments on a 'stalled revolution' when it comes to gender equality in the workplace
- Pay gains for young women; inequality still seen
- Smock and Farley remark on the record low birth rate in Michigan
- PSC Researchers & Trainees presenting latest research findings at PAA 2019
- Pamela Smock elected to PAA Committee on Publications
- Smock cited in amicus brief for Supreme Court case on citizenship rights for foreign-born children of unwed parents
- Surprising findings on what influences unintended pregnancy from Wise, Geronimus and Smock
- Paper by Wise, Geronimus and Smock on educational attainment and unintended pregnancy selected as Editor's Choice
- Smock says persistence of male 'provider' role contributes to increased divorce risk when husband lacks job
- Smock says domestic inequality maintained by view that male partners 'help out' around the house
- Smock discusses the "new American family" on NPR
- Smock says cohabitation does not reduce odds of marriage
- Smock cited in story on how low marriage rates may exacerbate marriage-status economic inequality
- Smock says half of all U.S. cohabiting couples end up marrying, 40% break up, 10% cohabit long term
- Smock discusses gendered division of domestic duties
- Smock says glass ceiling still intact, despite women's workplace gains
- Smock says focus on family stalls working women's careers in gender-biased workplace
- Smock and Lavelle's study cited in story on how ACA may spur divorce
- Smock says notion of being engaged has become 'flexible'
- Smock quoted in Time cover story on rising childlessness in America
- Smock says many find cohabitation a 'legitimate family form'
- Smock discusses why married people tend to be wealthier
- Lavelle and Smock assess impact of divorce on women's health insurance coverage
- Smock named editor of PAA’s flagship journal, Demography
- Pamela Smock elected president of the Association of Population Centers
- Smock says cohabitation may be keeping divorce rates steady
- Smock and Greenland's work cited in NYT story on nonmarital childbirth
- Smock comments on Millennials' approach to romantic relationships in Monitor cover story
- Smock and Lavelle's work on divorce and health insurance cited in Journalist's Resource
- Smock says education, finances, age more important factors in divorce risk than premarital cohabitation
- Smock's work cited in piece on how unemployment affects 'decisions of the heart'
- Smock says rising age of marriage in U.S. reflects new family formation trends
- Smock comments on 'stayover' relationships in NYT
- Pamela Smock elected to PAA Board of Directors
- Smock says men and women differ on reasons for cohabiting
- Smock comments on unmarried mothers and cohabitation in NYT article
- Smock comments on cohabitation and divorce in Newsweek
- Smock says federal data show no negative effect for cohabitation on marriage
- Meet New PSC Director Pamela Smock
- Smock views Gores' split in generational context
- Smock says NCHS report supports no negative effect of cohabitation on marriage
- Smock quoted in NYT article about living together and marriage
- Smock says tough economic times can test marital relations as more women enter workforce
- Smock comments on the economy and gender roles in AP story
