TY - JOUR
T1 - Wellbeing of adult children and ageing parents: associations with intergenerational support and relationship quality
AU - Merz, E.-M.
AU - Consedine, N.S.
AU - Schulze, H.-J.
AU - Schuengel, C.
N1 - Reporting year: 2009
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The current study describes from an attachment-theoretical viewpoint how ntergenerational support in adult child-parent relationships is associated with wellbeing in both generations. The attachment perspective and its focus on affective relationship characteristics is considered as an important theoretical framework for the investigation of special relationships across the life span. Data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N=1,456 dyads) were analysed to investigate if relationship quality moderated the association between providing intergenerational support to parents and wellbeing in adult children, on the one hand, and receiving intergenerational support from children and wellbeing of older parents on the other hand. The perspectives of both relationship partners
were taken into account to allow for dependence within dyads. Intergenerational support, in terms of instrumental help provision, was negatively associated with the child’s and parent’s wellbeing. Being the stronger and wiser partner in adultchild parent relationships, as reflected by giving advice and being the initiator within the relationship, was beneficial for the wellbeing of both generations.
Additionally, relationship quality was the strongest predictor of wellbeing in both generations. Parental wellbeing was benefited by filial support in high quality relationships. If an intergenerational relationships was of high quality, the challenges of intergenerational support provision and receipt were easier to deal with for both generations, parents and children.
Key words: adult child-parent relationships, intergenerational support and
wellbeing, relationship quality.
AB - The current study describes from an attachment-theoretical viewpoint how ntergenerational support in adult child-parent relationships is associated with wellbeing in both generations. The attachment perspective and its focus on affective relationship characteristics is considered as an important theoretical framework for the investigation of special relationships across the life span. Data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N=1,456 dyads) were analysed to investigate if relationship quality moderated the association between providing intergenerational support to parents and wellbeing in adult children, on the one hand, and receiving intergenerational support from children and wellbeing of older parents on the other hand. The perspectives of both relationship partners
were taken into account to allow for dependence within dyads. Intergenerational support, in terms of instrumental help provision, was negatively associated with the child’s and parent’s wellbeing. Being the stronger and wiser partner in adultchild parent relationships, as reflected by giving advice and being the initiator within the relationship, was beneficial for the wellbeing of both generations.
Additionally, relationship quality was the strongest predictor of wellbeing in both generations. Parental wellbeing was benefited by filial support in high quality relationships. If an intergenerational relationships was of high quality, the challenges of intergenerational support provision and receipt were easier to deal with for both generations, parents and children.
Key words: adult child-parent relationships, intergenerational support and
wellbeing, relationship quality.
U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X09008514
DO - 10.1017/S0144686X09008514
M3 - Article
SN - 0144-686X
VL - 29
SP - 783
EP - 802
JO - Ageing and Society
JF - Ageing and Society
IS - 5
ER -