Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 52, Issue 1 S13-S26, Copyright © 1997 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Geographic distance and contact between middle-aged children and their parents: the effects of social class over 20 years

L Greenwell and VL Bengtson
Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, USA. [email protected]

This research derives and tests hypotheses from two alternative conceptual models: the modified extended family model, and the changing family constraints model, which takes into account recent changes in work and family life. The hypotheses address social class differences in geographic distance and contact frequency between middle-aged children and their parents over time. Simultaneous probit models are used to analyze distance and contact as jointly determined outcomes with data from the USC Longitudinal Study of Generations and Mental Health. Results from these analyses indicate that children's 1971 educational aspirations and social class positions predict 1991 distance and contact between generations. Parents who have lower 1991 incomes, however, live farther from children and talk with them on the telephone less frequently than higher-income parents. Thus, the effects of early social class position support the modified extended family model, whereas the effects of current social class position support the changing family constraints model.

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				K. J. Ajrouch, A. Y. Blandon, and T. C. Antonucci Social Networks Among Men and Women: The Effects of Age and Socioeconomic Status J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2005; 60(6): S311 - S317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Glaser and C. Tomassini Proximity of Older Women to Their Children: A Comparison of Britain and Italy Gerontologist, December 1, 2000; 40(6): 729 - 737. [Abstract] [Full Text]