Visits of distant-living adult children and elderly parents

Abstract

This article describes and analyzes the visiting patterns of 40 adult children and elderly parents who live at least 200 miles from each other. Visiting patterns are described as ritual of renewal in five stages: (1) preparation and planning; (2) travel and greetings; (3) adjustment; (4) settling in; and (5) separation and departure. The analysis considers a number of factors that influence distant visiting patterns and satisfaction including sociodemographic variables, extent of distance, parents' health status, and situational factors. Researchers concerned with intergenerational relationships and communications in complex societies should not restrict their inquiries to groups that remain bounded in ethnic and urban neighborhoods, but should begin to study relationships and communications beyond specially bounded communities.