At which stage of the family life cycle do families begin to contract?

• A. Launching phase
• B. Expansion phase
• C. Family with young children
• D. Retirement phase

Answer: (A)

The idea is that the family life cycle has periods when the family grows and periods when it becomes smaller. The stage where families begin to contract is the launching phase. This is when the first child leaves home, creating an empty nest and reducing the number of dependents in the household. With fewer children at home, roles, finances, and daily routines shift, signaling the start of contraction. The other stages describe growth (families with young or school-age children) or later-life changes, but they don’t mark the initial reduction in family size in the same clear way.