AGING IN FAMILIES. Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSG) Vern Bengtson, et al @ USC--1971 ~300 3&4-generation families (2000 grandparents, parents,

AGING IN FAMILIES

Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSG)

• Vern Bengtson, et al @ USC--1971

• ~300 3&4-generation families

• (2000 grandparents, parents, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren)

• interviews in 71, 85, 88, 91, 94, & 97

Intergenerational Solidarity

• “…positive interactions, cohesion, and sentiments between parents and their adult children, and between grandparents and adult grandchildren”. (Kart & Kinney, p. 254)

Elements of Intergenerational Solidarity

• 1. Associational**

• 2. Affectual

• 3. Consensual

• 4. Functional**

• 5. Normative

• 6. Structural**

Structural Solidarity: Definition

• Opportunity structure for intergenerational relationships reflected in number, type, and geographic proximity of family members

Structural Solidarity: Indicators

• Residential propinquity: Strong predictor of contact & how much intergenerational assistance is provided within the family– “Almost all studies show that older people prefer

to live near, but not with, their children” (p. 255)– ‘92: Approximately 20% of older adults who

have a living child share a residence with that child.

Parents Residing with Adult Children

• Steady decline from 1900 to 1980.

• Among Whites: 58% to 18%

• Among Blacks: 40% to 30%

• WHY?– More socially acceptable for unmarried women

to live on their own– Increasing income of elderly since WW II

allows greater independence

Indicators, cont’d

• Number of family members--Will there be enough adult children in the future to care for older relatives?

• Health of family members

Structural SolidarityIn Summary:

• “Although the popular media has claimed that contemporary families are geographically dispersed, this claim is not supported by data…structural intergeneration solidarity is high among members of contemporary families…and should remain so into the 1st qtr of the Cen.

Associational Solidarity: Definition

• Frequency and patterns of interaction in various types of activities in which family members engage

Associational Solidarity: Indicators

• Frequency of intergenerational interactions of all types (e.g., face-to-face, telephone, mail)

• Types of common activities shared (e.g., recreation, special occasions, etc.)

• Research has shown differences:– Ethnic & racial--frequency & nature of contact

– By geographic proximity

– Rural vs Urban

Functional Solidarity: Definition

• Degree of helping & exchange

Functional Solidarity: Indicators

• Frequency of intergenerational exchanges of resources of assistance (e.g., financial, physical, emotional)

• Ratings of reciprocity in the intergenerational exchanges of resources

• Exchange of resources intergenerationally is a “two-way street”

• Exchanges include:– assistance with finances– shared housing– provision of instrumental and social support

Basis for Functional Solidarity?

• Really like each other?

• OR

• A sense of obligation?

Affectual Solidarity: Definition

• Type & degree of positive sentiment held about family members, and the degree of reciprocity of these sentiments

Affectual Solidarity: Indicators

• Ratings of affection, warmth, closeness, understanding, trust, and respect for family members

• Ratings of perceived reciprocity in positive sentiments among family members

• “Across a range of studies, members of older generations rate their relationships with younger generations more positively than members of the younger generations rate their relationships with members of the older generations.” (p. 260)

• WHY?

A possible explanation: the Developmental Stake Hypothesis• Older & younger generations have different

developmental concerns, thus, different levels of investment in and evaluation of the relationship.– E.g.: Older: Continuity is a salient issue– Younger: Independence & autonomy are salient

– Data from the LSG support this hypothesis

Consensual Solidarity: Definition

• Degree of agreement on values, attitudes, and beliefs among family members

Consensual Solidarity: Indicators

• Intrafamilial concordance among individual meeasures of specific values, attitudes, and beliefs.

• Ratings of perceived similarity with other family members in values, attitudes, and beliefs

Results from the LSG:

• High levels of intergenerational agreement & stability in scores over time

• Consistent with the developmental stake hypothesis

Normative Solidarity: Definition

• Strength of commitment to performance of familial roles and to meeting familial obligations

Normative Solidarity: Indicators

• Ratings of importance of family and intergenerational roles

• Ratings of strength of filial obligations (familism)

• Not much research on this one, but most people are”believers”

Elements at work in Later-life (postparental) Families

• Marital distributions of older men and older women differ widely. By 75+ 70% of men were married; 28% of women were. Why?– Much higher mortality rate for married men than

for married women

– “…not only do most married women outlive their husbands, but they do so by many years”

– higher remarriage rate of widowers (7X)

Marital Satisfaction Research

• Cross-sectional: Findings & Problems

• Marital Style--I.e., whether a spouse’s primary focus is the marital relationship, the general family relationship, or outside interests--vary, but are relatively stable over time

Divorce in Later Life

• Financial implications worse for women

• Effects on family relationships worse for men--less contact with kids & less support from kids

Widowhood

• Almost 70% of all women >65 are widows

• Remarriage: 10% for women; 20% for men

• Among the most stressful role transitions; grief work can take up to 2 yrs.

• Effects differ for men and women

Remarriage

• Greatest Chance of Success:– Both partners in good health– Couple has adequate income– Family & friends approve– The first marriage was successful

Grandparenthood: Styles of Grandparenting

• Formal: Provides goodies; leaves parenting up to the parents

• Fun-seeker

• Surrogate parent

• Reservoir of family wisdom

• Distant figure