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Wellbeing of adult children and ageing parents: associations with intergenerational support and relationship quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2009

EVA-MARIA MERZ ,
NATHAN S. CONSEDINE ,
HANS-JOACHIM SCHULZE  and
CARLO SCHUENGEL
EVA-MARIA MERZ*
Affiliation:
Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, The Hague. Intercultural Institute of Human Development and Aging, Long Island University, New York, US.
NATHAN S. CONSEDINE
Affiliation:
Intercultural Institute of Human Development and Aging, Long Island University, New York, US.
HANS-JOACHIM SCHULZE
Affiliation:
Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
CARLO SCHUENGEL
Affiliation:
Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
*
Address for correspondence: Eva-Maria Merz, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, Lange Houtstraat 19, PO Box 11650, 2502 AR The Hague, The Netherlands. Email: merz@nidi.nl
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Abstract

The current study describes from an attachment-theoretical viewpoint how intergenerational 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 adult-child 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.

Keywords

adult child-parent relationshipsintergenerational support and wellbeingrelationship quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 29 , Issue 5 , July 2009 , pp. 783 - 802
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press

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