New study on "Family" released Wednesday - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

New study on "Family" released Wednesday

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NEW YORK (AP) - There's new research coming out Wednesday that suggests changes are afoot in how Americans define family.

While family is still much revered, the research shows steadily increasing recognition of unmarried couples - gay and straight - as families.

But there's a solid core resisting this trend who are more willing to include pets in their definition than same-sex partners.

How "family" is defined is a crucial question.

Beyond the debate over same-sex marriage, it affects income tax filings, adoption and foster care practices, employee benefits, inheritance rights and countless other matters.

The presence of children counts significantly in people's definition of a family.

The new research is contained in a book-length study and a separate 2010 survey overseen by the book's lead author, Indiana University sociologist Brian Powell.

©2010 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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