Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences of adult children in manifestations of emotional closeness and its influence on frequency of contacts with their parents, as well as impact of the socio-economic status of parents on manifesting solidarity by the adult child. The participants of the research were 410 adult children, aged 18–62, living in Latvia, and with at least one parent alive. The results of the research showed that significant differences exist in manifestations of emotional closeness and frequency of contacts with parents by gender of a child and the socio-economic status of parents. Adult daughters more often meet and contact their parents than sons do. Emotional closeness and frequency of contacts correlate with providing functional help to their parents. Normative obligations of adult children to show care and provide help to their parents have been stipulated by the legislation of Latvia; however, the results of the research showed that parents who are emotionally close to their children received significantly greater help and support.
Highlights
Strengthening of intergenerational solidarity in family is a priority direction of development in Latvia within the nearest decade, taking into consideration the background of economic and social processes taking place on national and global scale [1]
Normative obligations that have been established by the legislation [2] stipulate that children should take care for their parents and help them; intergenerational solidarity in family includes other social interactions with parents which facilitate the strengthening of the family solidarity and motivate the adult children to provide help to their parents
By using the multidimensional model of intergenerational solidarity in family, the following results were obtained: Geographical proximity: The results show that 19% of respondents live with their parents in the same house/apartment; 12% of these respondents are aged 18 to 29
Summary
Strengthening of intergenerational solidarity in family is a priority direction of development in Latvia within the nearest decade, taking into consideration the background of economic and social processes taking place on national and global scale [1]. The ageing of the population, increased life expectancy, decreased birth rate, emancipation, and migration prove to be a challenge to the generation of adult children as they pursue the realization of their capabilities and maintain the cultural traditions of their families related to care and help provided to the parents. Normative obligations that have been established by the legislation [2] stipulate that children should take care for their parents and help them; intergenerational solidarity in family includes other social interactions with parents which facilitate the strengthening of the family solidarity and motivate the adult children to provide help to their parents. The Longitudinal Study of Generations (USA), the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (The Netherlands), the Norwegian Life-Course Generations and Gender Study (Norway), Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (Germany) [3] and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (28 European countries and Israel)
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