This review examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and family processes, focusing on how SES influences the quality and stability of romantic relationships, parent-child relationships, and individual development. Research over the past decade supports an interactionist model that integrates perspectives from both social causation and social selection. SES is linked to various developmental outcomes, including adult and child well-being, and the review highlights the complexity of these relationships. The economic climate during the 2000s was marked by financial instability, rising unemployment, and economic disparities, which affected family income and well-being. SES is measured through income, education, and occupational status, and these factors are associated with family processes and child development. The family stress model (FSM) suggests that economic hardship leads to stress, which can negatively affect family relationships and child development. The investment model (IM) proposes that economic resources enable parents to invest in their children's development, promoting academic and social success. Both models contribute to understanding how SES influences family life and child development, though further research is needed to fully explore these relationships.This review examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and family processes, focusing on how SES influences the quality and stability of romantic relationships, parent-child relationships, and individual development. Research over the past decade supports an interactionist model that integrates perspectives from both social causation and social selection. SES is linked to various developmental outcomes, including adult and child well-being, and the review highlights the complexity of these relationships. The economic climate during the 2000s was marked by financial instability, rising unemployment, and economic disparities, which affected family income and well-being. SES is measured through income, education, and occupational status, and these factors are associated with family processes and child development. The family stress model (FSM) suggests that economic hardship leads to stress, which can negatively affect family relationships and child development. The investment model (IM) proposes that economic resources enable parents to invest in their children's development, promoting academic and social success. Both models contribute to understanding how SES influences family life and child development, though further research is needed to fully explore these relationships.