Three in 10 American parents take care of their children first before putting money into their own retirement, according to a new report by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.

"As a nation, we are becoming incredibly diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, attitudes and experiences; you no longer can put a face on America – because there are so many different faces," said John Chandler, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for MassMutual. "The State of the American Family research platform helps foster a deep understanding of today's diverse families, trends that may shape them in the coming decade and factors that affect their dynamics and interactions on matters financial and otherwise."

The study found that 39 percent of Americans have developed a plan for their retirement saving. Among women, it is only 31 percent, despite the fact that women can expect to spend more than 50 percent more time in retirement than men. More than six in 10 of those surveyed plan to work part-time during retirement.