What term describes a family structure formed when a single parent remarries?

• A. Reconstituted Family
• B. Nuclear Family
• C. Extended Family
• D. Blended Family

Answer: (A)

When a single parent remarries, the household is formed by re-forming two separate family units into one new family, so the structure is described as a reconstituted family. The emphasis is on rebuilding the family with both the existing family and the new spouse’s family coming together into one household. This distinguishes it from a nuclear family, which is simply two parents and their children; an extended family, which includes additional relatives outside the immediate household; and a blended family, a common term for stepfamilies, though the idea of reconstituting the family through remarriage captures the specific process of forming the new arrangement. For example, a single parent with a child marries someone who has a child from a previous relationship, creating a new household that includes members from both families.