Dimensions Of Intergenerational Solidarity Research Articles

Displaying intergenerational solidarity on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic: understanding the implications in the grandparent-grandchild relationship

ABSTRACT The habits of families are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, with limitations to socialization or visits. Grandparents and grandchildren use social media to sustain interpersonal relationships, as well as display intergenerational solidarity to others. This paper presents a qualitative content analysis of the display of different dimensions of intergenerational solidarity between grandparents and grandchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, on TikTok. The analysis extends the understanding of intergenerational solidarity between grandparents and grandchildren on TikTok, by highlighting which characteristics or activities they find important to display to other users of the platform. The results suggest that grandparents and grandchildren value qualities of physical touch and family celebrations (i.e. affectual solidarity), and big life events (i.e. normative solidarity). Moreover, grandparents and grandchildren refrain from consensual solidarity on TikTok, but other categories of intergenerational solidarity provide clues to differences in the public display of their respective roles.

Reciprocal associations between affectual, associational, and normative solidarity with parents during children's early to established adulthood.

Intergenerational solidarity has become increasingly important to understand, as close family members mobilize the provision of social support across generations and contribute to family wellbeing. However, less is known about continuity and change in normative (eldercare norms), affectual, and associational solidarity with mothers and fathers as children emerge into full or established adulthood. Therefore, we focused on reciprocal associations between three dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (normative, affectual, and associational) as reported by young-adult children from their early twenties to late thirties. Data were derived from respondents in the Longitudinal Study of Generations: daughters reported about relationships with 291 mother-father pairs and sons reported about relationships with 309 mother-father pairs in 2000, 2005, and 2016. Autoregressive cross-lagged models prospectively predicted mutual influences among the three dimensions of solidarity across daughter-parent and son-parent relationships. In addition, multiple group analysis was conducted to examine the children's gender difference. We found that normative solidarity and emotional closeness with mothers were mutually reinforcing in daughters' and sons' parental relationships. However, normative solidarity predicted emotional closeness with fathers in both daughter-parent and son-parent relationships. The study concludes that sons and daughters establish eldercare norms based on emotional components of solidarity with mothers, and suggest that filial duty is a key reason why mother-child relations become close over the family life course.

Patterns and Predictors of Taiwanese Adult Children’s Intergenerational Exchanges Before and After Economic Stagnation

This study explores whether cultural norms and economic performance shape the differences in the patterns of intergenerational exchanges, and analyzes whether structural, normative, or emotional dimensions of intergenerational solidarity predict the derived typology of intergenerational exchange in Taiwan before and after economic stagnation. Data derives from nationally representative samples of adult children with at least one parent alive in 2006 and 2016. Latent class analysis (LCA), measurement invariance with LCA, and multinomial logistic regression analysis are applied to analyze data. The results demonstrate how filial norms and economic stagnation influence the intergenerational exchange patterns. The study identifies five classes of intergenerational exchanges. There was a higher proportion of the high-exchange membership in the period of salary growth, while there was a higher proportion of the memberships of emotion-oriented exchanges during the wage stagnation period. Results reveal that geographic distance exerts a stronger and more consistent association with various exchange patterns.

Intergenerational contact and solidarity, inside and outside the family: patterns in Spain

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.

Reciprocal Associations Between Normative, Affectual, and Associational Solidarity With Parents in Young Adults

Intergenerational solidarity has become important as close family ties mobilize the provision of social support across generations and contribute to the family wellbeing. One popular approach to studying intergenerational cohesion in aging families is through the theoretical construct of intergenerational solidarity. However, less is known about the longitudinal and reciprocal associations between normative, affectual, and associational solidarity with mothers and fathers among young-adult children in the transition to adulthood. On the basis of the theoretical construct of intergenerational solidarity, we examined the reciprocal associations between three dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (normative, affectual, and associational) with parents in young-adult children from their early twenties to late thirties. Data were derived from 287 mother-son, 325 mother-daughter, 262 father-son, and 297 father-daughter groups who participated in the Longitudinal Study of Generations between 2000 and 2016. Autoregressive cross-lagged model with latent variables predicted the causal relations between three dimensions of solidarity across four parent-child groups. We found that young-adult sons’ perceived associational solidarity with parents predicted normative solidarity over time, whereas young-adult daughters’ perceived affectual solidarity with mothers predicted normative solidarity over time. In addition, young-adult daughters’ perceived normative solidarity predicted affectual solidarity for fathers over time. The present study found that young-adult sons and daughters have different ways establishing normative solidarity in their early twenties to late thirties according to parents’ gender. In addition, this study found that normative solidarity is beneficial for young-adult daughters developing emotional closeness with fathers over time.

Intergenerational solidarity in triads of adult grandchild, parent, and grandparent: the positive view of elders, positive expectations towards the future and young-elders divide

ABSTRACT Introduction The remarkable growth of older adults represents a challenge for our societies. The population of aging requires adjustments that sometimes are difficult to achieve for already stressed welfare systems. In this context, intergenerational solidarity may play a central role. Demographic shifts over the past century have also increased the percentage of grandchildren who, as young adults, have living grandparents. Adult grandchildren could become an important source of intergenerational solidarity, but few studies have explored intergenerational relations, including grandparents, adult children, and adult grandchildren. None to our knowledge have examined which aspects of intergenerational solidarity affect the positive view of elders, positive expectations toward the future, and old-young divides. Objectives We aimed to explore three critical dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (affinity, contact, and instrumental exchange) and examine how each component is related to positive views of elders, positive expectations toward the future, and the young elders divide. Methods The study was conducted in Italy; it involved 420 participants divided into 140 triads. Semi-structure interviews with elders, adult grandchildren, and parents were used to measure intergenerational solidarity. Each triad was composed of 140 grandparents aged 65 to 92, 140 parents aged 39 to 72, 140 grandchildren aged 17 to 50. Results Affinity variables such as perceived similarity, sharing the same micro-culture, and giving importance to grandchild–grandparent relation, promoted a positive view of aging, positive expectations toward the future, and lower perceptions of a young-elders divide in society. The contact variables had mixed effects. Conclusion Overall our results highlight that mostly affinity variables promoted a positive view of aging, positive expectations toward the future and reduced the perception of the generational gap.

Intergenerational Solidarity and Life Satisfaction among Empty-nest Older Adults in Rural China: Does Distance Matter?

Intergenerational solidarity plays a significant role in older adults’ psychological well-being, but it remains unclear whether the influence would vary by distance. This study aims to examine the moderating role of geographical proximity between intergenerational solidarity and life satisfaction. We interviewed 1,015 rural older adults in Sichuan, China. Life satisfaction was measured by Satisfaction with Life Scale. Five of the six dimensions of intergenerational solidarity were assessed: structural (geographical proximity), associational (contact frequency), functional (support exchange), affectual (emotional closeness), and normative (filial obligation). Multiple regression with interaction term was used. We found the effect of intergenerational solidarity (except associational solidarity) on life satisfaction was strongest for older adults with children living in the same city. Gender differences existed in the moderating effect of parent–child distance on the relationship between intergenerational solidarity and life satisfaction. Social services could focus on older adults with interprovincial migrant children and protect their well-being.

Typology of Young Korean Adults’ Relationships with their Parents from an Intergenerational Solidarity Lens

The literature on parent-child relationships in young adulthood lacks a systemic approach that considers the multifaceted nature of intergenerational relationships. In this paper, we identify the latent profiles of young Korean adults’ relationships with their parents based on the six dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (structural, associational, affectual, consensual, functional, and normative solidarity) as indicators. We considered solidarity for the mother and the father separately for structural, associational, affectual, and consensual dimensions. In terms of functional and normative solidarity, we measured both upstream and downstream intergenerational support. The sample included 1,015 young adults who were 19-34 years old, never married, not in secondary school, and had both parents living. The latent profile analysis revealed four profiles: (a) independent but intimate (22.7%), (b) coresident, outwardly intimate (32.4%), (c) detached from father (6.7%), and (d) coresident, intimate (38.2%). The factors that predicted each profile included the young adults’ education, income, subjective socioeconomic status, and experiencing the features of emerging adulthood along with the parents’ marital status, father’s employment, and overparenting. The “coresident, intimate” group reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms compared to the other three groups. The lowest levels of psychological adjustment were found in the “coresident, outwardly intimate” group and “detached from father” group.

Intergenerational Religious Participation in Adolescence and Provision of Assistance to Older Mothers.

This investigation examined the association between intergenerational religious activities in adolescence and provision of assistance to older mothers up to 45 years later. Guided by perspectives of the life course and intergenerational solidarity, this research tested whether children's early religious participation with mothers predicted the amount of assistance children later provided, whether mothers' disability and widowhood served as moderators of this relationship, and whether any such moderation was mediated by emotional closeness, geographic proximity, and eldercare norms. Data derived from 220 adolescents who participated in the Longitudinal Study of Generations in 1971, and up to four follow-up surveys between 1997 and 2016, yielding 608 person-year observations. Multilevel regression predicted the amount of assistance provided to older mothers as a function of early religious participation with mothers, physical and social vulnerability of mothers, and dimensions of intergenerational solidarity with mothers in later life. Results revealed elevated levels of assistance provided by children who earlier engaged in intermittent and regular religious activities with mothers. The relationship between regular religious activities and assistance was stronger for assistance to widowed mothers than to married mothers, and this moderation was partially mediated by emotional closeness and geographic proximity. This research confirmed that early family conditions structure informal resources available to older parents. Religious socialization during an impressionable period of life produced emergent benefits at a point in the family life-cycle when intergenerational solidarity becomes important for well-being in later life.

Est modus in rebus: a longitudinal study of intergenerational solidarity and Locus of Control

ABSTRACTThis study challenges the persistent assumption behind research on intergenerational relationships, wondering: ‘can there be too much of a good thing’? The guiding hypothesis states that intergenerational solidarity, although beneficial for older parents' wellbeing at moderate levels, may be negatively associated with their individual sense of control at high levels. In contrast to previous studies, fixed-effects regression models on panel data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing control for selection in solidarity and changes in health. The analysis of 4,811 women and 3,847 men above the age of 50 also accounts for intergenerational conflict. Using multiple dimensions of intergenerational solidarity, our findings offer insight into the different roles of the various types of solidarity and can aid the design of formal and informal social support interventions.

Farewell to Moms? Maternal Contact for Seven Countries in 1986 and 2001

Challenging the popular narrative of the long‐run decline of the extended family, contemporary studies of intergenerational relations insist that the ties between adult children and their parents are increasing in importance. Although research documents a decline in multigenerational households, there is little empirical evidence on changes over time in other dimensions of intergenerational solidarity. Drawing on 1986 and 2001 data from the International Social Survey Programme, the authors analyzed trends in maternal contact in 7 Western countries: (a) Australia, (b) Austria, (c) Germany (West), (d) Great Britain, (e) Hungary, (f) Italy, and (g) the United States (N = 7,578). They found no evidence that adult children's contact with mothers became less frequent. In particular, contacts that do not require face‐to‐face interaction increased, consistent with the diffusion of cell phones and Internet use over the period. Although theorizing points to demographic developments as driving trends in intergenerational cohesion, changes in population composition played only a minor role.

Intergenerational Solidarity and Ambivalence: Types of Relationships in German Families

For at least two decades the research regarding generations in family sociology has been dominated by the multidimensional concept of intergenerational solidarity. Recently, the concept of intergenerational ambivalence, emphasizing the simultaneity of positive and negative aspects in family relations, has become a popular counterpart to the solidarity model. The aim of this paper is to integrate empirically both positive and negative aspects in families. Thus, firstly, four types of intergenerational relations (amicable, civil, ambivalent, and disharmonious) are generated by cross-classifying both scales on intimacy (positive) and conflict (negative) in the family. Secondly, differences in the four types of relations regarding the dimensions of intergenerational solidarity are empirically investigated. The analysis is based on the German data taken from the cross-cultural study “Value of Children and Intergenerational Relations” (VOC) which was carried out in 2002. A binary logistic regression analysis shows that the likelihood for the daughter-mother-relation to be ambivalent increases if daughters receive financial, instrumental, and emotional support from their mothers (functional solidarity). For the daughter-father-dyad, the likelihood to be ambivalent is slightly higher if the daughters indicate a higher agreement on familial norms (normative solidarity). Solidarity dimensions are better suited to explain the association with a certain type of relationship in the case of amicable, disharmonious, and civil relations (for both mother and father relations), where frequency of contact (associational solidarity) and emotional closeness (effectual solidarity) are also relevant.

Perceived Instrumental Support Exchanges in Relationships between Elderly Parents and Their Adult Children: Normative and Structural Explanations

If the norm of filial responsibility is apparent, children should give relatively more instrumental support to their parents. Structural circumstances of adult children, such as being employed or having young children, and of their parents, such as having small families, influence the amount of instrumental support the parents receive. Data are from a sample of 365 adults and 634 of their children. The higher the filial responsibility of both parent and children, the more support the parent received. Mothers, old parents, parents in need of support, and parents without a partner received relatively more support. The structural circumstances of the children do not have any effect on the support that parents receive. Reciprocity is an important determinant of the support that the parent receives. Key Words: aged, intergenerational relations, parent-child relations, reciprocity, social support networks. Previous research (e.g., Mancini & Blieszner, 1989) has proved that the alienation of people from their family may be fiction. Actually, there are a number of support exchanges between parents and their adult children (Dykstra & Knipscheer, 1995). The amount of support exchanged in this type of relationship is generally greater than the amount of support exchanged between any other kin (Hanson & Sauer, 1985). Moreover, when people become old and need support, it is generally their children who provide support, particularly if the level of support provided by the partner is insufficient (Stoller, 1994) or if there is no partner. In this study, we focus on norms and structures in parent-child relationships. We examine the influence that they exert on instrumental support exchanges. The framework of intergenerational solidarity is a way to understand relationships between parents and their children (Lee, Netzer, & Coward, 1994). We use three dimensions of intergenerational solidarity (Bengtson & Roberts, 1991): the functional dimension (exchange of instrumental support), the normative dimension (expectations of individual obligations to the family), and the structural dimension (opportunities for family interaction). As Lee et al. have noted, the framework of intergenerational solidarity has rarely been applied to support exchanges, and associations between the functional and normative dimension have not been examined. Although Bengtson and Roberts treat all dimensions equally, we examine whether the normative and structural dimensions determine the amount of instrumental support that is given. Our main question is: Are adult children's and parents' norms and the structural circumstances of adult children determinants of the instrumental support given to parents? We hypothesize that norms determine the number of instrumental support exchanges in relationships between parents and their children. According to Hanson and Sauer (1985) and Stein (1993), children and parents have expectations about filial responsibilities and share the view that children are obligated to provide support if their parents need it. This view is based, in part, on the fact that parents gave support to their children in the past and the children should now offer support in return (Dwyer, Lee, & Jankowski, 1994). Seelbach (1984) argues that young and middle-aged children are expected to help their aging parents and give priority to their parents' needs over their own. However, the results of a study conducted by Brody, Johnsen, and Fulcomer (1984) among women of three generations show that they sharply distinguish among the services they expect children to perform for their parents. There is a strong commitment on the part of children to help their parents if the parents need support. However, a situation in which various generations live together is not preferred by either generation. Nor does the older generation prefer help from their adult children with expenses. Nor do they expect that children adjust their family activities, probably because of the widespread desire not to be a burden. …

ATTITUDES TOWARD CARING FOR AGING PARENTS: A COMPARISON OF LAOTIAN AND U.S. STUDENTS

This study examined the effect of culture on attitudes toward filial obligations. The instrument used to measure filial responsibility comprised five dimensions of intergenerational solidarity: normative, functional, affectional, consensual, and structural. Results of a survey of 60 Laotian refugee high school students and 60 American high school students support the role of culture as an important factor in shaping perceptions of filial obligations toward aging parents. Laotian refugee students scored significantly higher on the dimensions of normative, functional, and structural solidarity. It is concluded that many of the same forces that motivate children in nonindustrial societies to look after their aging parents are likely to continue among the Laotian refugee subculture in the United States.