An extended family is a family group consisting of close relatives extending beyond a couple and their children, living either within the same household or in a close and continuous relationship with one another. This can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other kin who play a significant role in the family's social and economic life. Extended family structures were more common in pre-industrial societies and in many cultures around the world, where they often provided a strong network of support, shared resources, and collective caregiving. While the nuclear family (a couple and their dependent children) has become more prevalent in many Western industrialised societies, extended family ties continue to be important for many individuals and can provide valuable social, emotional, and practical support.