Abstract
AbstractAnalysis of intergenerational contact and solidarity patterns has generally focused on the family. However, the unprecedented co-existence of a high number of different generations raises the challenge to delve into how such patterns may develop inside and outside the family. To understand better intrafamilial and extrafamilial intergenerational contact and solidarity in Spain, three national surveys were initially studied using cross-tabulation tables and measures of association. Then, factor analysis and logistic regression of most recent data focused on explanatory variables behind two dimensions of intergenerational solidarity. Regarding intergenerational co-residence, the results point to a highly relevant difference between intrafamilial and extrafamilial habits. As regards regular, but non-residential, contact between the generations, two gaps have been identified. The first gap appears between family practices and non-family practices, with a significant and progressive reduction of the latter being detected. According to the second gap, while intergenerational contact drops outside the family, levels of intragenerational contact are comparable in both settings. In this context, patterns of associational and functional intergenerational solidarity towards older relatives and non-relatives have been identified, with age, distance, civil status and especially gender being the key explanatory variables. The paper argues that there is good reason to pay combined attention to both intrafamilial and extrafamilial forms of intergenerational contact and solidarity, something that has been done very little to date.
Highlights
In Mediterranean countries the analysis of intergenerational solidarity has generally focused on the family, at times excessively (Calzada and Brooks, 2013), both when a comparative approach is used (Reher, 1998; Calzada and Brooks, 2013; Bordone et al, 2017; Vergauwen and Mortelmans, 2019) and when studying specific cases, such as Spain (Ayuso, 2012; Marí-Klose and Escapa, 2015; Sánchez et al, 2019; Meil, 2000)
The first question posed focused on the situation of extrafamilial as opposed to intrafamilial intergenerational contact
The results indicated that the difference between intrafamilial habits and extrafamilial habits was highly relevant
Summary
In Mediterranean countries the analysis of intergenerational solidarity has generally focused on the family, at times excessively (Calzada and Brooks, 2013), both when a comparative approach is used (Reher, 1998; Calzada and Brooks, 2013; Bordone et al, 2017; Vergauwen and Mortelmans, 2019) and when studying specific cases, such as Spain (Ayuso, 2012; Marí-Klose and Escapa, 2015; Sánchez et al, 2019; Meil, 2000) The fertility rate is at a historical low (FBBVA, 2019)
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