Lives Of Adult Children Research Articles

Refusing Gender: Intimate (Mis)Recognition of Gender Identity and Its Relation to Family Instabilities

This study extends the literature on the impact of the family of origin on gender identity by theorizing about refusing gender. We define refusing gender as the intimate refusal of gender identity by family members that is perceived as intentional and deliberate by transgender and nonbinary people in the United States. In this article, we demonstrate how refusing gender is intimate, perceived as intentional, embedded within existing family instabilities, and disruptive of family relationships. This study is based on interviews from a racially diverse group of 25 transgender and nonbinary adults in Texas, half of whom report high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Findings contribute to gender theory by revealing the importance of the family in recognizing gender identity. This research makes novel connections between existing family instability, including histories of abuse, and gender refusal. We embed gender recognition within persistent family dynamics, including long-standing family instabilities and family violence, arguing that these family dynamics persist in the lives of adult children. Overall, these findings demonstrate how cisnormativity is reproduced in family life, filling significant gaps in theorizing about transgender and nonbinary family life.

Adult Sibling Tension and Older Mothers’ Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Caregiving

The life course perspective concept of “linked lives” suggests that the lives of adult children and older parents are interconnected and consequential for the well-being of members of both generations. In this work, we consider the association between tension among adult siblings and older mothers’ psychological well-being. We focus specifically on tension in the adult sibling relationship because research has shown that negative relationship quality is especially consequential for well-being. We consider this association in the context of caregiving because this is a time when offspring are often required to coordinate with each other to provide assistance. We utilized data from 304 older mothers (average age = 78) and 736 of their adult children (average age = 49) from the Within-Family Difference Study (WFDS) II. First, we examined the direct association between adult sibling tension and mothers’ reports of depressive symptoms. Second, we examined whether the association between sibling tension and mothers’ depressive symptoms was moderated by mothers’ need for care. Preliminary results indicated no direct effect of sibling tension on mothers’ depressive symptoms. However, moderation analysis revealed that sibling tension was associated with an increase in mothers’ depressive symptoms among mothers who reported needing assistance. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the interconnected nature of adult family relationships especially in the context of later-life family caregiving. In particular, the findings reveal that older mothers in need of care are especially vulnerable to tension in the relationships among their adult children.

Does long-term care coverage shape the impact of informal care-giving on quality of life? A difference-in-difference approach

AbstractThe impact that providing care to ageing parents has on adult children's lives may depend on the long-term care (LTC) context. A common approach to test this is to compare whether the impact of care-giving varies between countries with different LTC coverage. However, this approach leaves considerable room for omitted variable bias. We use individual fixed-effects analyses to reduce bias in the estimates of the effects of informal care-giving on quality of life, and combine this with a difference-in-difference approach to reduce bias in the estimated moderating impact of LTC coverage on these effects. We draw on longitudinal data for Sweden and Denmark from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) collected between 2004 and 2015. Both countries traditionally had generous LTC coverage, but cutbacks were implemented at the end of the 20th century in Sweden and more recently in Denmark. We use this country difference in the timing of the cutbacks to shed light on effects of LTC coverage on the impact care-giving has on quality of life. Our analyses show that care-giving was more detrimental for quality of life in Sweden than in Denmark, and this difference weakened significantly when LTC coverage was reduced in Denmark, but not in Sweden. This suggests that LTC coverage shapes the impact of care-giving on quality of life.

Parental retirement timing: the role of unanticipated events in the lives of adult children

Although anecdotal evidence of older parents postponing retirement to financially support their grown children is common, the empirical evidence is scarce. In this paper, we use data from the 1992 to 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to identify a broad set of pivotal events in the lives of adult children. First, we determine whether these events affect subsequent financial transfers from parents to children over multiple years. Next, we determine whether those events that result in subsequent transfers also shift parental retirement expectations. Finally, we quantify the impact of the unexpected children’s events on retirement realizations, moving beyond the correlational analyses in prior literature. Our findings show that a child’s move out of a parental home decreases both expectations and realizations of working after age 65. The magnitude of this effect is similar to that of an own health shock experienced during pre-retirement years.

Memorializing Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the Struggle for Control of Mother's DayKatharineLane Antolini. West Virginia University Press, 2014.

Memorializing Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and Struggle for Control of Mother's Day Katharine Lane Antolini. West Virginia University Press, 2014.Memorializing Motherhood sets out illustrate enmeshed and interdependent ideological trends, traditions, patterns, and even misunderstandings embodied within day's historic observance, revealing holiday's cultural significance as celebration of Mother's Day's duality [holiday and cultural representation of motherhood] (3, 2). Antolini tells readers that it matters where one places apostrophe in Mother's Day, singular possessive, accentuating sentimental and private, or plural possessive (Mothers' Day), stressing the public dynamics of women's maternal identities (6). Antolini's historical narrative structurally consists of two major divisions: first, Chapters One and Two, traces first origins of Mother's Day and compares five early models to one begun and fought for by Anna Jarvis, introduced in Chapter Two; second part explores noncommercial or philanthropic rivals to Jarvis's model reinterpreted for political, economic, and social welfare agendas (8). Chapter Three treats twentieth century's encroachment of fathers in domestic roles on day; Chapters Four and Five examine how organizations Jarvis referenced as charity charlatans ironically moved her original vision of Day into modern world and actually succeeded in promoting a richer model of American (10). The narrative concludes decline of Jarvis's Mother's Day movement in 1940s (11). Antolini finds in symbolic celebration of maternal role intrinsic source of day's cultural longevity (158).As historian, Antolini engages in careful research and marshals evidence in support of her interpretation of Anna Jarvis as tenaciously protective of her founder status, diligently guarding her version of Mother's Day to point that it consumed her financially, physically, and emotionally (39, 153). Anna Jarvis founded Mother's Day in 1908, when she was fortyfour years old; her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had started Mothers' Day Work Clubs to combat social issues such as infant mortality, was inspiration for Jarvis's own model of day that would celebrate, in idolized way, mother's individual role, as day for all to become children again and show gratitude mother who had tenderly watched over them (42). Ann Reeves Jarvis was mother who had had lost nine of her thirteen children to death; Anna was her tenth child, girl with no children who had remained single all her life (16, 45). Antolini makes point that Jarvis's Mother's Day movement cannot be understood fully except in terms of her relationship to her mother, controlling individual who interfered with her surviving adult children's lives, particularly relying heavily upon Anna, eldest unmarried daughter, for companionship and restraining her ambitions fit boundaries of proper womanhood (43, 45). Antolini indulges psychological explanation of Jarvis's Mother's Day movement as an outlet for ambitions once denied to her or as form of 'pathological mourning' in order to reconcile her grief with resentment she felt toward mother while she was alive (44).Two views of motherhood exist in narrative portraiture of mother Ann and daughter Anna: first belonging to Victorian era; latter, twentieth century. Victorian maternal rhetoric recognizably emphasized kitchen, nursery, piety, purity, subservience, physical care, and moral education. From paradox of renounced power and self, mothers gained new charismatic authority and prestige exercised within home but also moving beyond domestic boundaries into benevolent and reform movements (15). In other words, Reeves [1858], Howe [1873], and Blakely [1877] offered model of social motherhood that encompassed full range of maternal role, viewing mothers as essential to cohesion of both family and community (13, 15). …

‘Living the tightrope’: The experience of maternal ovarian cancer for adult children in Australia

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to explore and interpret the experience of maternal ovarian cancer (prior to recurrence) for adult children living in Australia. Although it is well recognised that cancer impacts upon the lives of family members, the experience of maternal ovarian cancer for adult children has been neglected in the literature. MethodData for this qualitative study were collected via unstructured in-depth interviews with nine adults from three states of Australia. Participants' mothers had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer but not recurrent disease. Hermeneutic phenomenology provided a philosophical framework for data collection and analysis. ResultsThree themes were identified: living in a dread-full world; living in a solicitous world; and living in a terminable world. Children experienced ovarian cancer as an ongoing life-changing ontological phenomenon and Being-in-a-changed-world was revealed as the essence of the experience. ConclusionsThe findings revealed that the lives of adult children are directly impacted by their mother's ovarian cancer. The themes and essence arising from the study provide a simple conceptual model with which health professionals might approach care of such children. Findings are not limited to ovarian cancer but may be directly applicable to other cancer experiences.

Adult Children’s Serious Health Conditions and the Flow of Support Between the Generations

The life course perspective suggests that serious physical or mental health conditions that limit the daily activities of any one family member are likely to be consequential for other family members as well. In this article, we explored whether adult children's serious health conditions affected the flow of expressive and instrumental support between mothers and both the offspring with health conditions and other offspring in the family. We used data collected from 369 older mothers (M = 78 years) regarding 1,338 of their adult children (M = 49 years), as part of the Within-Family Differences Study-II. Adult children with serious health conditions were more likely than their siblings to be given support by their mothers. The presence of adult children with health issues did not reduce mothers' provision of expressive or instrumental support to their children without health conditions. However, in families in which a higher proportion of children had serious health conditions, mothers received expressive support from a greater proportion of their healthy adult children than in families with a smaller proportion of adult children with health conditions. These findings contribute to a growing body of research demonstrating the ways in which conditions in adult children's lives affect their mothers.

Effects of a Mid- to Late-Life Parental Divorce on Adult Children

There is a dearth of research on whether and how a later-life parental divorce influences the lives of adult children. Through qualitative interviews with 40 adult children of divorce (ACD)—those whose parents divorced after they were 18 years of age—ACD were asked to discuss their experience of the parental divorce. There were commonalities experienced by the ACD. However, only half of the ACD were initially affected negatively by their parents’ divorce, whereas the other half did not have a tough time initially. Factors including being “put in the middle,” along with strained parent–child relationships, were found to have the potential to affect one’s experience.

Adult Sibling Relationships in the Context of a Mid- to Late-Life Parental Divorce

There has been much research on the influence of parental divorce on children, but less is known about whether and how a later-life parental divorce influences the lives of adult children. Through qualitative interviews with 40 adult children of divorce—those whose parents divorced after they were 18 years of age—adult sibling relationships were explored to determine if a mid- to late-life parental divorce affects the adult sibling relationship. The majority of participants reported that their sibling relationships were not negatively affected by the parental divorce; however, a minority of participants noted that their adult sibling relationships were negatively affected, especially if they “took sides” during the parental divorce.

Parent–Child Relationships in the Context of a Mid- to Late-Life Parental Divorce

There has been much research on the influence of parental divorce on children, but less is known about whether and how a later-life parental divorce influences the lives of adult children. Through qualitative interviews with 40 adult children of divorce—those whose parents divorced after they were 18 years of age— parent–adult child relationships were explored to determine if a mid- to late-life parental divorce affects the parent–child relationship. About half of the adult children reported a change to a negative relationship with one or both parents during the initial stages of the divorce. In addition, many discussed how their relationships with their parents evolved over time.

Informal family carers and lack of personal time: Descriptions of being outside the sphere of formal help

The aim of this article is to study manifestations of uncomfortable familial commitments. The connection of such commitments to informal family carers' descriptions of problems in accessibility of services and to descriptions of preferences regarding limited use of formal help is examined. The data consists of 21 qualitative interviews of Finnish persons who, alongside their gainful employment, cared for their parent(s). It is argued that the lives of adult children and parent(s) needing care and help are interdependent, and various uncomfortable familial commitments exist due to problems in service provision (accessibility of services) or the reluctance of parents to accept formal help (use of services). These commitments are manifested in a lack of personal time. Furthermore, lack of personal time can be manifested in a lack of physical time. However, it can also be manifested in a lack of ‘happy-go-lucky time’ (time without continuous concern) or ‘autonomous’ time. Social care services enable working carers to have respite from the otherwise continuous concern and worry about the well-being of parent(s). However, receiving formal help is contextualized both with structural rationales and individual and familial rationales. Consequently, policies improving the possibilities of combining work and care solely by service accessibility might not be helpful for those carers who face the reluctance of their parent(s) to accept services.

Grandparenting in Chinese Immigrant Families

In light of the life course perspective, this semistructured interview study with 29 grandparents involved in the caregiving of their grandchildren in Chinese immigrant families revealed three major themes: intergenerational connectedness and continuity of cultural practices, role varieties and responsibilities, and adjustment and adaptation. Despite immigration, Chinese grandparents continued the tradition of providing care to grandchildren. Although the grandparent role entailed responsibilities and there were adjustments to make when living in the new place, overall, grandparents considered their caregiving experiences positive. Support to these grandparents, however, was needed at both family and community levels to ensure their stay in the United States and their continuous contribution to their adult children's lives.

Parents' Perceptions of Postschool Years for Young Adults With Developmental Disabilities

This qualitative study investigated parents' perceptions of the various roles they played in their adult children's lives during the post-high school years. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 9 families of young adults with developmental disabilities. Findings indicated that families perceived the complexity of their roles as balancing between advocating for their adult children's needs while promoting independence and self-determination. The roles parents assumed as their children entered into adult life were those of collaborators, decision makers, and program evaluators, role models, trainers, mentors and instructors, and systems change agents. Parents often felt they were the safety net for their children and the back-up plan for service agencies. Parents' quotes illustrated the complexity of the roles they played as their young adult children with developmental disabilities entered adulthood.

The Long-Term Effects of Parental Alienation on Adult Children: A Qualitative Research Study

A qualitative retrospective study was conducted on 38 adults who experienced parental alienation as a child. Individuals participated in one-hour semi-structured interviews. Audiotapes were transcribed verbatim, and submitted to a content analysis for primary themes and patterns. Findings pertaining to the long-term effects of parental alienation were analyzed for this article. Results revealed seven major areas of impact: (1) low self-esteem, (2) depression, (3) drug/alcohol abuse, (4) lack of trust, (5) alienation from own children, (6) divorce, and (7) other. These seven themes are discussed at length to provide the first glimpse into the lives of adult children of parental alienation.

Helping to Build and Rebuild Secure Lives and Futures: Financial Transfers from Parents to Adult Children and Grandchildren

This paper explores intergenerational financial transfers from parents to adult children and grandchildren within a life course perspective. Research on intergenerational financial transfers has been sparse, and little is known about the financial support older Canadians provide to family members or about the meaning of that assistance. Survey data from a convenience sample of older Canadians was analysed to determine the types of financial assistance older persons provide, what motivates them to provide this assistance, and what meanings such transfers have for the older persons themselves. Findings suggest that it is often events and transitions in the lives of adult children that shape the financial assistance that is needed and given within these families. Older parents demonstrate a strong desire to help their children and grandchildren through important or difficult transitions to "build or rebuild secure lives and futures". Parents' assistance is also influenced by their own family history of assistance and their desire to pass on an early inheritance during their lifetime.

From a child's point of view: Intergenerational influences on the organization of household and labor

That household strategies bear directly on the lives of individual household members is a much-stated fact. That household strategies have profound long-term effects on the options and choices made by individual household members also has received much less attention. By focusing on intergenerational relations within the context of households, this article brings to light certain long-term effects which household relations have on the lives of adult children in terms of the organization of their domestic and laboring lives. The article shows that the decisions pertaining to household organization and development of labor strategies are heavily influenced by individual, personal evaluations of the quality of long-term moral and emotional relations across generations.

Problems in the Lives of Adult Children

This article examines how major problems and strains in the lives of middle-aged adults affect the emotional well-being and stress levels of their aging parents. Twenty-nine married couples aged 60 and over were interviewed. For mothers, but not fathers, there was a significant relationship between problems in the lives of their adult children and the parent's emotional well-being. During the qualitative interviews, however, fathers spoke of experiencing considerable personal distress from their children's problems. The need for support and education groups for aging parents who have children that are experiencing major disruptions is discussed.