Divergent perceptions of intergenerational relationships: what implications, if any?

Abstract

ABSTRACTPeople involved in a shared social relationship may perceive their relationship differently. The intergenerational stake hypothesis posits differences in reports of parents and adult children on emotional closeness and conflict; empirical studies have also found different reports on the exchange of support. These findings are tested by looking at assessments of different dimensions of the parent–child relation. Data were drawn from the 2009to 2010 wave of the German Family Panel (pairfam) and include more than 4500 parent–child dyads. Some differences were found (parents reported higher emotional closeness and lower conflict), but does this mean that all empirical studies of intergenerational relationships are potentially biased if they use data from only one generation? Using pairfam data, we show that no great statistical bias is introduced when data from one, not both generations are used. Thus, data from one side of the parent–child dyad are sufficient for most research into intergenerational relations.