Adult Parent–Child Relationships: Relationship Quality, Support, and Reciprocity

Abstract

A partir du modèle de la solidarité intergénérationnelle de Bengston (Bengston & Roberts, 1991), on a étudié, chez 265 femmes entre deux âges vivant en Allemagne, les interrelations entre leurs valeurs familiales, leur perception de qualité de la relation avec leurs parents, le soutien qu’elles disent leur apporter et recevoir de leur part, ainsi que leur appréhension de l’entraide entre les générations. On s’est aussi demandé si l’aide apporté aux parents et la réciprocité perçu étaient en rapport avec la charge que les filles ressentaient suite au soutien accordé. Les données des diverses rubriques, fournies par les sujets, ont été traitées avec des analyses de régression logistiques multiple et multinomiale. Les analyses ont débouché sur des liaisons positives entre les valeurs familiales, la qualité des relations et le soutien aux parents. La réciprocité perçue était reliée aux aides mutuelles entre les générations et un soutien déséquilibré avait des effets négatifs sur la qualité de la relation. La charge ressentie pouvait ­être prédite à partir de la réciprocité perçue et de l’importance de l’aide. Cependant, sont apparus des modèles corrélationnels spécifiques dépendant à la fois du type d’aide et du niveau d’importance relatif du père et de la mère. Les résultats sont discutés dans le contexte du sens de la réciprocité et des obligations familiales dans une culture occidentale. In accordance with Bengtson's model of intergenerational solidarity (e.g. Bengtson & Roberts, 1991), the interrelations between adult daughters’ family values, their perception of the relationship quality with their parents, the support they reported to give to and to receive from their parents, and their perception of reciprocity in intergenerational support exchange were investigated for N= 265 middle‐aged women in Germany. It was also asked whether the support given to parents and perceived reciprocity are related to daughters’ felt burden as a result of their support. Cross‐sectional, self‐report data were examined with multiple and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The analyses revealed positive relations between family values, relationship quality, and support to parents. Perceived reciprocity was associated with the exchange of intergenerational support, and imbalance in support had negative effects on the relationship quality. Felt burden was predicted by the extent of support and the perceived reciprocity. However, specific correlational patterns depending on the kind of support as well as differences in the importance of mother and father occurred. The findings are discussed against the background of the meaning of family obligations and reciprocity in a Western culture.

The relation between attachment and intergenerational support

“…As expected and already shown for a larger sample of the ''Value of Children'' Study (Schwarz et al 2005), interdependence was positively related to the provision of emotional and instrumental support. However, daughter's attachment was only related to the provision of instrumental support.…”

“…For analyses predicting given support a third control variable was used: interdependence that was an indicator of family obligations (five items, example: ''It is important to me to respect decisions made by my family.''). Interdependence was positively related to the provision of support in previous studies (Schwarz et al 2005).…”

“…There is rich evidence for the importance of family obligations in providing support and for a positive association between the affective qualities of the relationship, such as closeness, warmth, and positive evaluation of the other person (admiration), and the exchange, that is receiving and providing support (e.g., Ikking et al 1999;Rossi and Rossi 1990;Schwarz et al 2005;Silverstein et al 1995). However, given the life-long ties between parents and children, earlier experiences within the parent-child relationship presumably are relevant for the arrangements in adulthood (Cicirelli 1983; see also Rossi and Rossi 1990;Bengtson 1996).…”

The `Intergenerational Stake Hypothesis' in Indonesia and Germany

“…This does not, however, imply disconnected family ties over the life course; on the contrary, family relationships may still be based on emotional closeness and solidarity (Bengtson, 2001;Schwarz et al, 2005). In contrast, in the collectivistic context, marriage and children (the establishment of a new family) means the continuation of the existing family network by an extended in-group.…”

The Role of Culture in Social Development Over the Lifespan: An Interpersonal Relations Approach

“…However, cultures differ with respect to conceptualizing adulthood and related developmental tasks of adults; for instance, as far as responsibilities of adult children for their ageing parents are concerned (Schwarz, Albert, Trommsdorff, & Mayer, 2005). Also, social changes affect the gender role, and thereby have an impact on the family system including the conditions for child care and parent-child relations (e.g., Rehel, 2014).…”