Contemporary Family Research Articles

Older Adults’ Descendants and Family Networks in the Context of Global Educational Expansion

AbstractFamily networks are key to understanding the well‐being of older adults because kin provide instrumental and financial support, help manage health and disability, and encourage social integration. Two momentous societal changes have shaped the families of contemporary older adults: the first and second demographic transitions and global educational expansion. The intersection of these two processes raises questions about how older adults are faring in terms of their kin availability. This paper examines the socioeconomic bifurcation of adults in midlife and beyond in terms of the existence of descendants and other kin. Disparities in kin availability may vary across socioeconomic status and contexts, and so we examine this phenomenon worldwide, analyzing data on two thirds of the world's population of adults aged 50 and above. Our results highlight different kin structures by socioeconomic status. High socioeconomic status adults have fewer descendants but a higher likelihood of having at least one child with tertiary education, a partner, and living parents. Low socioeconomic status older adults have larger families with more younger kin. Our results shed new light on potential mismatches between the contemporary family networks of older adults and longstanding social norms and assumptions about caregiving, family, and health policies.

Taking shared parenting seriously: a comparative study of how family policies accommodate shared physical custody in post-separation households

Shared physical custody (SPC) is a care arrangement following parental separation, whereby children alternatively reside with their mother and father. Very little is known about how family policies accommodate SPC, which is all the more unfortunate, as it represents a key opportunity to understand how family policies can efficiently facilitate shared parenting. To address this gap, this article presents a modest attempt at designing a new comparative family policy approach that considers SPC arrangements, by examining the extent to which Belgian, French and Italian family policies accommodate a more equal sharing of parenting post-divorce. In so doing, we encourage studies of defamilialization to take better account of the diversity of contemporary family forms. The theoretical section traces back key feminist debates around defamilialization and proposes to consider SPC arrangements as an ‘atypical’ family configuration that best illustrates contemporary tensions around defamilialization and gender equality. It also takes stock of the few studies of family policy and SPC to highlight key issues at stake. The analysis section starts with the main characteristics of the family law, welfare regime and family policies of the three countries. Then, we examine a selection of emblematic and national-level family policies from the following areas: (1) Family benefits; (2) Financial support to access to services; and (3) Tax measures. Our comparison focuses on three main criteria: scope; entitlement; and shareability of benefits between parents in the context of SPC. Our analysis reveals the variety of approaches to SPC in family polices across countries and policy areas, and the significant lack of support for a more equitable distribution of parenting within SPC. We conclude by highlighting the usefulness of taking SPC into account in reflecting on and evaluating the implementation of defamilialization policies, and by identifying some of the challenges to be met by future research.

Evaluation of Indigenous Cultural Practices that Affect Resistance of the Family Unit in Sub-Saharan Africa

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of indigenous cultural practices on the resilience of families in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to analyzing the degradation of these behaviors and the increase in single parenthood in the region, the objective was to investigate how these cultural traditions contribute to families’ capacity to cope with and recover from hardship. This study offers practical suggestions for incorporating indigenous values into contemporary family assistance programs. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology, this study used semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations with a sample of 120 single parents from four local governments in Nigeria to obtain data. The reoccurring themes identified through thematic analysis include the degradation of traditional values, the transition towards single parenthood, and the socio-economic elements that influence family constructions in contemporary African societies. The present study enhances academic research by emphasizing the pivotal significance of indigenous cultural practices in promoting resilience. This study provides valuable perspectives on the integration of ancient communal support networks and values into modern interventions designed to enhance family resilience. Furthermore, the research underscores the significance of safeguarding these cultural traditions in response to modernization and socio-economic transformations, hence broadening the discussion on cultural conservation and adjustment in African communities. Keywords: Indigenous Traditions, Cultural practices, Family Resilience, Societal Problems

P-338 Redefining elective co-parenting: a systematic assessment of concepts and definitions found in the literature and a recommendation for new terminology

Abstract Study question What concepts and concept definitions (including normative meanings) are found in the literature for forms of ‘elective co-parenting’ and which can be recommended? Summary answer Current terminology lacks comprehensiveness and often contains additional (hidden) meanings, thereby jeopardizing its usability for research on contemporary family formation. We suggest a new nomenclature. What is known already There is an increase in the variation of family forms, types of parenthood roles and methods for family formation. One such way of family building has most recently been referred to as “elective co-parenting”. Not to be confused with parenting after separation, elective co-parenting typically alludes to the intentional undertaking of a shared parental project by persons who are primarily in a reproductive (and not a ‘romantic’) relationship with each other. However, many other terms and somewhat diverging concept definitions have been put forward. It seems that a fundamental conceptual framework has not yet been established. Study design, size, duration We will adhere to a tailored set of guidelines for conceptual engineering organized in five stages: (i) Identify potential attributes by collecting a representative set of definitions, (ii) Organize the potential attributes by theme and identify any necessary & sufficient or shared ones, (iii) Develop a preliminary definition of the concept, (iv) Determine what functions our concepts should serve going forward, (v) Refine the conceptual definition and improve or replace the concept. Participants/materials, setting, methods A scoping review was performed by implementing a wide-ranging search string in ProQuest. We used the following selection criteria: the article is (a) a peer-reviewed journal article, book chapter, conference paper, or report, (b) published in the last ten years, (c) written in English, that (d) proposes an explicit concept definition (also including normative meanings). Papers cited in the retrieved publications were also included if they satisfied (a), (b), (c) and (d). Main results and the role of chance After screening the available literature for academic articles that contained one or several explicit definition(s) of ‘elective co-parenting’, and that met the other selection criteria; (a), (b) and (c), key attributes mentioned in these definitions were organized in themes, i.e. necessary and/or sufficient conditions; e.g. (a) ‘Pre-conception temporality’, (b) ‘Collaborative nature’, etc. Data analysis is currently ongoing. Our aim is to put forward a new and comprehensive concept definition. In this, we will provide more clarity by making explicit all the necessary conditions (and not merely one or two as is the case in many current definitions). Furthermore, prompted by ethical considerations (e.g. ‘elective’ puts notable emphasis on free choice), we will also propose a new term for the concept of ‘elective co-parenting’; one that is more neutral and therefore more appropriate to describe the particular family building practice. The study will be completed in the forthcoming months. Limitations, reasons for caution The main challenge of this study was the construction of a suitable search strategy to find papers on a topic for which a wide range of (often contested) concepts and terminology was used. For this, several, but certainly not all (e.g. empirical research), possible strategies and data sources were explored. Wider implications of the findings This study highlights the importance of establishing clear concepts and concept definitions in the pursuit of high quality research. Providing a more appropriate concept and concept definition for what is now known as “elective co-parenting” renders further inquiry into the topic more intellectually and ethically sound. Trial registration number N/A

Historical shocks and community-based enterprises: the slave trades, family dynamics, and social entrepreneurship in Africa

ABSTRACT This study investigates how exposure to traumatic historical shocks shapes the emergence of community-based enterprises across geographic regions in Africa. Leveraging a family embeddedness theoretical lens in the context of the traumatic background of the historic African slave trades, we theorize that the extent of slave exports is adversely related to cohesion and trust in family institutions in the affected regions, thereby reducing the likelihood of community-based enterprises in the modern era. Nevertheless, we also conjecture that this legacy of social structure disintegration and mistrust created by historical trauma from the slave trades can be relieved through contemporary family embeddedness in entrepreneurial activity. Empirically, we test these hypotheses by merging slave export data from 500 years of the African slave trades with data on 4,685 modern social enterprises across 49 African countries. The results corroborate the main hypothesis and show that the effect of slave exports on the likelihood of community-based enterprises is contingent on family funding and female involvement in social enterprises. These findings highlight the central role of familial dynamics in the link between historical trauma and modern entrepreneurial strategy.

Relationships between Parenting Style and Children’s Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review

It is crucial to identify parenting techniques that are suitable for the present-day environment to promote the optimal mental well-being of children. Following a PRISMA method, this study conducted a systematic review of the relationships between parenting style and children’s self-efficacy. A total of 32 journal articles published on Scopus and Web of Science in the last five years were included in the review. The synthesis indicated that while an authoritative parenting style often generates good results, parents’ permissiveness nowadays can be beneficial to offspring’s growth of self-efficacy. Combined with the analysis of different dimensions of parenting style, this study concluded that a warm-based parenting style is favorable parenting for developing children’s self-efficacy, no matter the children’s age, cultural contexts, and types of self-efficacy. This study not only highlights the gaps in existing research and offers guidance for future study in the field, but also provides practical implications for contemporary family education. Parents and educators can gain valuable insights to implement effective parenting strategies and create a supportive atmosphere that is consistent between home and school.

Shaping a moral body in family dinner talk: Children's socialization to good manners concerning bodily conduct

The family meal has been extensively investigated as a site for children's acquisition of eating-related behaviors and attitudes, as well as culture-specific rules and assumptions. However, little is known about children's socialization to a constitutive dimension of commensality and even social life: good manners concerning bodily conduct. Drawing on 20th century scholarship on body governmentality and good manners, and building on recent studies on family meal as a socialization site, the article sheds light on this overlooked dimension of family commensality. Based on a corpus of more than 20 h of videorecorded family dinner interactions collected in Italy, and using discourse analysis, the article shows that family mealtime constitutes a relevant arena where parents control their children's conduct through the micro-politics of good manners. By participating in mealtime interactions, children witness and have the chance to acquire the specific cultural principles governing bodily conduct at the table, such as “sitting properly”, “eating with cutlery”, and “chewing with mouth closed”. Yet, they are also socialized to a foundational principle of human sociality: one's own behavior must be self-monitored according to the perspective of the generalized Other. Noticing that forms and contents of contemporary family mealtime talk about good manners are surprisingly similar to those described by Elias in his seminal work on the social history of good manners, the article documents that mealtime still constitutes a privileged cultural site where children are multimodally introduced to morality concerning not only specific table manners, but also more general and overarching assumptions, namely the conception of the body as an entity that should be (self)monitored and shaped according to moral standards.

The anthropomorphization of the human-animal bond in family dynamics: A documentary review

Introduction: The study of the interaction between humans and companion animals has become more relevant due to changes in current social dynamics. Objective: To conduct a documentary review of the evolution of research on anthropomorphizationin animals and its impact on the human-animal bond characteristic of contemporary family dynamics. Methodology: This is a documentary review study supported by the Tree of Science (ToS) web tool for literature selection. The search was conducted inScopus and Web of Science. Thirty-one studies were included in the review. Results: The results were categorized into classical, structural and recent studies. It was found that the anthropomorphization of the animal and its inclusion in the family makes it possible to modify behaviors and establish habits in family life. The role of animals in the family scenario is directly influenced by the degree to which they are anthropomorphized, which generates both advantages and disadvantages for the family, the pets and their direct caregivers. Conclusions: Anthropomorphizing practices respond to contemporary changes in human relationships and perceived loneliness and may promote bonds in human-animal and human-human interactions.

The Components of Multilevel Engagement Theory

This article presents the components (i.e., assumptions, concepts, and propositions) of the Multilevel Engagement Theory. Raza provided specific examples to describe the components of the theory and discussed these components in relation to the existing literature. The components of Multilevel Engagement Theory are also discussed in relation to three contemporary theories (i.e., family systems theory, feminist theory, and social exchange theory) to demonstrate similarities and differences between the Multilevel Engagement Theory and the other theories used in mainstream research. The author provided examples from his graduate level course assignments to further explain the componets of Multilevel Engagement Theory and demonstrate the use and application of this theory. The Multilevel Engagement Theory considers culture and diversity as the central aspects to the understanding of family relationships and functioning and provides researchers with a comprehensive conceptual framework to conduct research on contemporary families, understand multilevel phenomena, and explain complex real-life situations.

Serial indirect effects from childhood maltreatment to adult chronic health conditions through contemporary family relationships and mental health problems: Inquiry into sleep disturbances and stress.

Childhood maltreatment accelerates biological aging, leaving adults vulnerable to chronic health problems. There is robust evidence that social relationships, including those with family members, may influence chronic health problems through psychological pathways, but there is little research considering stress and sleep problems, especially among adults who experienced childhood maltreatment. Furthermore, longitudinal research is lacking related to maltreatment and chronic health problems. The current study examined familial support and strain and subsequent sleep problems and stress in a serial mediational model linking childhood maltreatment to chronic health problems over time. Using three waves of data from the study of Midlife Development in the United States (N = 859; 55.8% female), structural equation modeling was used to examine familial support, strain, stress, and sleep problems in serial mediational model linking maltreatment to the number of chronic health conditions over a 9-year period. Childhood maltreatment was indirectly associated with a number of chronic health conditions through familial support and strain through subsequent reports of stress. Although family support was associated with fewer sleep problems, the bootstrapped indirect effect was not significant. Simple indirect effects from maltreatment to the number of chronic health problems were significant through both sleep problems and stress. Contemporary family relationships and psychological problems are possible points of prevention and intervention reducing the number of chronic health conditions among adults who were maltreated in childhood. Focusing on familial relationships and stress processes may be particularly fruitful. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Parental Liability Law in Malaysia for Children’s Misconduct: A Legal Overview

This article explores into the evolving landscape of parental liability law in Malaysia by examining its foundations in criminal law, torts, and the Child Act 2001. It also draws comparisons with the United States to shed light on the potential prospects for reform in Malaysia. By analysing the Malaysian legal framework, which includes provisions from the Penal Code, Child Act 2001, other statutes, and Islamic jurisprudence, the article uncovers the existing contours of parental liability and highlights areas where clarity and refinement are needed. The study emphasises the need for a balanced approach that holds parents accountable for their children's actions without imposing unjust or excessive penalties. Drawing from the comparative analysis with the United States and Islamic viewpoints, where parental liability laws vary across states, the article showcases the diverse approaches taken to address similar issues. Lessons learned from the U.S. experience offer valuable insights for Malaysia as it seeks to modernise and adapt its parental liability laws to contemporary family dynamics and societal challenges.

The digitalization of family life: A multilevel conceptual framework

AbstractThe internet and digital technologies have penetrated all domains of people's lives, and family life is no exception. Despite being a characterizing feature of contemporary family change, the digitalization of family life has yet to be systematically theorized. Against this backdrop, this article develops a multilevel conceptual framework for understanding the digitalization of family life and illustrates the framework by synthesizing state‐of‐the‐art research from multiple disciplines across global contexts. At a micro level, as individuals “do” family online, digitalization influences diverse aspects of family practices, including family formation, functioning, and contact. How individuals “do” family online is not free‐floating but embedded in macro‐level economic, sociocultural, and political systems underpinning processes of digitalization. Bridging the micro–macro divide, family‐focused online communities serve as a pivotal intermediary at the meso level, where people display family life to, and exchange family‐related support with, mostly nonfamily members. Meso‐level online communities are key sites for forming and diffusing collective identities and shared family norms. Bringing together the three levels, the framework also considers cross‐level interrelations to develop a holistic digital ecology of family life. The article concludes by discussing the contributions of the framework to understanding family change and advancing family scholarship in the digital age.

Parity of participation: social justice and women’s experiential knowledge in contemporary family violence policy and service development

At a time when public participation in policy and service development is presented as progressive and innovative across many social policy areas, this article critically examines public participation and the inclusion of lived experience as potential sites for social justice. Using Nancy Fraser’s theory of social justice and parity of participation, the article explores the inclusion of lived experience within existing systems and structures of gender hierarchies. Focusing on the Australian family violence sector, the article argues that without a critical analysis of power and the systems that support inequality, the inclusion of lived experience can be tokenistic and disempowering, particularly for women who have experienced family violence. This analysis highlights the need to critically examine public participation measures and the inclusion of lived experience to ensure that there is transformational intent to disrupt power hierarchies, with implications extending beyond the family violence sector.

Exploring the Role UK Grandfathers Play in Parenting Culture: Intermittent Intensive Grandfathering

Grandparents play an increasingly active caregiving role in contemporary family life. However, specific exploration of grandfatherhood and its practice is rare. This article explores how intensive parenting norms inform men’s performance of grandfathering in the United Kingdom, with ageing offering men a ‘second chance’ to (grand)parent in ways qualitatively different from fathering. In-depth interviews with UK grandfathers revealed that while they displayed ‘involved’ grandfatherhood and practised elements of intensive grandfathering, this was often in typically masculine ways. Men embraced the competitive nature of intensive parenting, particularly around educational development, and advancement. Other elements of intensive parenting (e.g. expert-dependence, over-protectiveness and self-sacrifice) were, however, overlooked. Accordingly, we introduce ‘intermittent intensive grandfathering’, recognising discontinuities in the childcare tasks that participants would/would not involve themselves.

Situating data relations in the datafied home: A methodological approach

Studying datafication focusing on the microlevel of everyday life poses epistemological and methodological challenges. Indeed, the black-boxed nature of algorithms makes data inaccessible and unintelligible to the researcher. Therefore, this paper aims to advance a methodological proposal for addressing the situatedness of datafication in everyday life by framing mediatised relations as a proxy for data relations. In particular, this research adopts a “non-media-centric” approach and frames families as communicative figurations. By reporting a qualitative longitudinal study on the datafication of childhood and family life involving 20 families with at least 1 child aged 8 years or younger in Italy and by employing a mixed method constructivist grounded theory methodology that includes network methods, we analyse three families as exemplary of different network articulations. Such an approach, we argue, can help materialise the mediatised relations through, about, and around data that emerge in contemporary family life.

The Evolution of Patriarchal Structures in Contemporary Families: A Qualitative Inquiry

Objective: The patriarchal family structure has been a dominant societal framework, influencing gender roles and family dynamics across cultures. However, contemporary societal shifts, including changes in economic conditions, cultural norms, and gender expectations, have begun to challenge and reshape these traditional structures. This study aims to explore the evolution of patriarchal structures in contemporary families, focusing on how these changes impact authority dynamics, economic influences, and cultural and social norms within family units. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 25 participants from diverse backgrounds to gather in-depth insights into the shifting patriarchal dynamics within families. Theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the themes. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the evolution of patriarchal structures. Findings: The analysis revealed three main themes: Changing Dynamics of Authority, Economic Influences on Patriarchy, and Cultural and Social Norms. Under the Changing Dynamics of Authority, findings highlighted a trend towards joint decision-making, redistribution of gender roles, and new conflict resolution strategies. Economic Influences on Patriarchy underscored the role of financial independence in challenging traditional norms, with significant changes observed in household economy management and the impact of economic crises on family roles. Cultural and Social Norms revealed shifts in perceptions of masculinity and femininity, the influence of marriage and family traditions, the role of religion, education, and the impact of media and technology on family structures. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that patriarchal structures in contemporary families are undergoing significant evolution. Economic autonomy, cultural shifts, and changing gender roles play pivotal roles in this transformation. The findings suggest a move towards more egalitarian family structures, where traditional patriarchal authority is being renegotiated in response to contemporary societal changes.

TRANSFORMATION OF THE FAMILY INSTITUTION: SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NEW CHANGES IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

The emergence of new positions on the issues of gender equality and justice, as they arise in the context of social liberalism and economic reconstruction, serve to ensure equality between men and women. Furthermore, they facilitate the advent of novel approaches to the birth and upbringing of children, and accelerate the transformation of the family institution. The reconciliation of new positions in marriage-family relations and the succession of generations represents an urgent problem that requires sociological analysis. The authors of the article conducted an analysis of the system of sociological theoretical and methodological concepts aimed at explaining the changes in the institution of the family. They also conducted a secondary analysis of the sociological research data (N: 1,200 respondent) on the topic “Kazakhstan Families – 2022”, which was conducted by the NJSC “Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development”. This multifaceted approach enabled the identification and analysis of the changes occurring in marriage and family relations in Kazakhstan. The findings of the analysis indicated that the attitudes and stances of Kazakhstani individuals with regard to the family are characterised by a degree of conservatism. Furthermore, the findings of the study indicate that Kazakhstani individuals place a high value on traditional family values and strive to maintain them. Nevertheless, the most significant value for a contemporary family is care and mutual respect, as well as support, which in the modern era is referred to as an “ecological relationship”. A conceptual analysis of the transformation of the family institution and its interpretation in practice through the results of sociological research has the potential to inform theoretical and methodological decisions in the development of proposals for the regulation of marriage-family relations for submission to state structures and research institutes.

Transnational Families: Maintaining Relationships Across Borders

In an era characterized by globalization and mobility, the phenomenon of transnational families has become increasingly prevalent. These families, dispersed across national borders, strive to maintain familial bonds despite geographical separations. This letter explores the dynamics of transnational families, focusing on the methods they employ to preserve relationships and the challenges they encounter, drawing upon recent scholarly contributions to the field. In conclusion, transnational families embody the complexities and dynamism of contemporary family life in a globalized world. Through innovative communication practices, caregiving arrangements, and the maintenance of cultural ties, these families demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability. As globalization continues to shape the patterns of migration and family life, it is essential for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to pay close attention to the needs and experiences of transnational families. Addressing issues of accessibility, supporting caregiving arrangements, and fostering cultural connectivity are crucial steps in ensuring the well-being and cohesion of transnational families. As we move forward, it is vital to continue exploring and understanding the diverse ways in which families maintain their relationships across borders, adapting to the challenges and opportunities of a connected world.

Social media and family investment behavior

This study delves into the intricate connections between family investment habits and social media. Through an analysis of social media use patterns, information exposure, family financial literacy, and the impact of social media on investment decisions, this research aims to shed light on the intricacies that characterize contemporary family investment plans. Using regression models to examine data from 75 countries between 2000 and 2022, this research aims to illuminate how social media users see financial risks and the relationship between exposure and risk tolerance. Furthermore, the study examines how social media plays a part in long-term budgeting, specifically whether families use it to set investment targets. This research also looks at how people in a family use technology and how social media affects people's openness to new financial tools. Additionally, it investigates the effects, both good and bad, of social media on family conversations on money and investing. The thorough examination of these factors in this research sheds light on how family investing habits have evolved in the digital era. The findings of this study reveal the impact of internet media on family financial dynamic cycles, which is of great importance to scholars, professionals, and lawmakers.

The science of families: Nurturing hope, happiness, and health

AbstractObjectiveAuthors explored ways to understand how families and communities remain hopeful, happy, and healthy.BackgroundThe 2021 National Council on Family Relations annual conference set the groundwork for the special issue, The Science of Families: Nurturing Hope, Happiness, and Health, asking authors to take a strength‐based, transformative, and trans‐ and interdisciplinary perspective.MethodsTwo translational methodologies are offered: the inclusive cultural‐variant community‐based participatory research model (ICV‐CBPR) and Communities of Practice. The six emerging themes and a summary of the connotations of hope, happiness, and health are described in the articles.ResultsThe six emerging themes that connoted the meaning of hope, happiness, or health across 30 manuscripts included (a) the COVID‐19 pandemic and health, (b) diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, (c) family policies and academic program needs, (d) military families, (e) contemporary family topics, and (f) research innovations. In one third of the articles, authors transformed implications, with all authors offering practical and research implications.ConclusionsHealth and happiness were often implied in notions of resilience, relationship quality, parenting, and coping. Just over half of the articles (n = 16) directly or indirectly referenced COVID‐19, health, and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Other topics comprised mental and physical health, resilience, the social construction of gender, and military families. Some authors provided concrete suggestions; all submitted research and practical implications.ImplicationsThe movement toward Family Science disseminating and transforming research is moving forth. The diversity of topics, disciplines, and countries (n = 9) aligns with the inclusion and diversity goals of Family Relations.