ABSTRACT This study aims to explore different aspects of risk among Iranian families, and, furthermore, to determine the cumulative risk during the family life cycle stages. The sample comprised 600 women (either employed or unemployed) in six districts of Tehran, whowere selected by the convenience sampling method. Family risk was measured using a 30-item scale pertaining to the marital, social and economic risks among families. The family life cycle stage was measured by asking families to report the number of kids, their age and situation (stay with or left family). The results of factor analysis of family risk items explored four main risks -economic, marital, social and managerial. The results indicate that families perceived the highest level of risk during the second stage of the family life cycle in which the children are born and grow up
