HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Cited by other online articles Google Scholar Articles by Silverstein, M. Articles by Bengtson, V. L. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Silverstein, M. Articles by Bengtson, V. L.

Reciprocity in Parent–Child Relations Over the Adult Life Course

^a University of Southern California, Andrus Gerontology Center, Los Angeles
^b University of West Florida, Department of Marketing and Economics, Pensacola

Merril Silverstein, Andrus Gerontology Center, 3715 McClintock St., Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191 E-mail: merrils{at}usc.edu.

Decision Editor: Fredric D. Wolinsky, PhD

Objectives. This research assessed how parents' transfers of sentiment, time, and financial assets to their adolescent/young adult children affect the children's propensity in middle age to provide social support to their aging parents. We tested whether the mechanism of long-term intergenerational exchange is better modeled as a return on investment, an insurance policy triggered by the longevity or physical frailty of parents, or the result of altruistic (or other nonreciprocal) motivations on the part of adult children.

Methods. Models were examined with 6 waves of data from the University of Southern California Longitudinal Study of Generations. The sample consisted of 501 children who participated in the 1971 survey and who had at least 1 parent surviving in 1985. Growth curve modeling was applied to predict average levels and rates of change in social support provided to mothers and fathers between 1985 and 1997 as a function of early parental transfers of affection, association, and tangible resources to their children.

Results. Children who spent more time in shared activities with their mothers and fathers in 1971 provided more support to them on average. Receiving greater financial support from parents in 1971 raised the marginal rate at which support provided by children increased over time. Maternal health operated synergistically with early affection to produce greater levels of support. Both levels and rates of increase in support from children were positive, even for children who received no early transfers from their parents.

Discussion. The results offer some support for investment, insurance, and altruistic models of intergenerational exchange. Sharing time in activities provides a direct return to the parent that is characteristic of an investment strategy, whereas financial transfers provide a time-contingent return that is characteristic of an insurance mechanism. That affection triggers greater support to more functionally impaired mothers suggests that emotionally investing in children as a health insurance mechanism may be based on the greater moral equity accorded to mothers. The motivation of adult children to provide social support to their older parents is partially rooted in earlier family experiences and guided by an implicit social contract that ensures long-term reciprocity.

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

				M. Silverstein, D. Gans, and F. M. Yang Intergenerational Support to Aging Parents: The Role of Norms and Needs Journal of Family Issues, August 1, 2006; 27(8): 1068 - 1084. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. J. Suitor, K. Pillemer, and J. Sechrist Within-Family Differences in Mothers' Support to Adult Children J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2006; 61(1): S10 - S17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Boerner and J. P. Reinhardt Giving While in Need: Support Provided by Disabled Older Adults J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2003; 58(5): S297 - 304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Becker, Y. Beyene, E. Newsom, and N. Mayen Creating Continuity Through Mutual Assistance: Intergenerational Reciprocity in Four Ethnic Groups J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2003; 58(3): S151 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]