Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Transition to a Parent-Caring Role by Adult Children

  • Chapter
Book cover Role Transitions

Part of the book series: NATO Conference Series ((HF,volume 23))

Abstract

Research findings indicate that after children are launched from the family of orientation, relationships between parents and children change, both quantitatively and qualitatively; however, the bond between the generations remains strong and highly meaningful, with much interaction, mutual aid and affective feelings (Hages- tad, 1977; Hagestad & Snow, 1977; Hill, Foot, Aldous, Carlson, & MacDonald, 1970; Shanas & Streib, 1965; Shanas, Townsend, Wedderburn, Fritz, & Milhoj, 1968). The modal family form in western societies consists of economically independent households connected to some degree by ties of aid, interaction, and affect. The widespread notion promulgated by the media that elderly in American society are neglected, ignored, and abandoned by their kin is contrary to empirical evidence accumulated over the last two decades about intergenerational helping patterns in old age.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aldous, J.Family careers: Developmental change in families. New York: Wiley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blenckner, M. Social work and family relationships in later life with some thoughts on filial maturity. In E. Shanas & G.F. Streib (Eds.),Social structure and the family: Generational relationships. Engle- wood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1965. Pp. 46 – 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, E. The aging of the family.Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 1978, 435, 13 – 27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, E. Women in the middle and family help to older people.The Gerontologist, 1981, 27, 471 – 480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burr, W.R., Leigh, G.K., Day, R.D., & Constantine, J. Symbolic interactionism and the family. In W.R. Burr, R. Hill. F.I. Nye & I. Reiss (Eds.),Contemporary theories about the family(Vol. 2 ). New York: Free Press, 1979. Pp. 42 – 111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicirelli, V.G.Helping elderly parents: The role of adult children. Boston: Auburn House, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cottrell, L.S., Jr. The adjustment of the individual to his age and sex roles.American Sociological Review, 1942, 7, 617 – 620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E.H.Childhood and society( 2nd ed. ). New York: Norton, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagestad, G.O.Role change and socialization in adulthood: The transition to the empty nest. Unpublished manuscript, The Pennsylvania State University, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagestad, G.O., & Snow, R.Young adult offspring as interpersonal resources in middle age. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R.J.Developmental tasks and education. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R., Foote, N.N., Aldous, J., Carlson, R., & MacDonald, R.Family development in three generations. Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkmen, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R., & Mattessich, P.W. Family development theory and life span development. In P.B. Baltes & O.G. Brim, Jr. (Eds.),Life-span development and behavior(Vol. 2 ). New York: Academic Press, 1979. Pp. 162 – 204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurie, W.F.Employing the Duke OARS methodology in cost comparisons: Home services and institutionalization. Center reports on advances in research 2. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, G.L. Children of the elderly as natural helpers: Some demographic differences.American Journal of Community Psychology, 1978,6, 489 – 498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litwak, E. Geographic mobility and extended family cohesion.American Sociological Review, 1960, 25, 385 – 394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B.C. A multivariate developmental model of marital satisfaction.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1976,38, 643 – 657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moen, E.W. The reluctance of the elderly to accept help.Social Problems, 1978, 25, 293 – 303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, J.E. The economics of supportive services for families with disabled and aging members.Family Relations, mi, 31, 19–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, R.T. Aging and the field of social work. In M.W. Riley (Ed.),Aging and society(Vol. 2 ). New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1969. Pp. 18 – 54.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics.Home care for persons 55 and over, U.S., July 1966-June 1968.Vital and Health Statistics, Series number10,1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, S.Housing adjustments of older people: A report from the second phase. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Older Americans Act of 1965, as Amended. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Human Development, Administration on Aging, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puner, M.To the good long life: What we know about growing old. New York: Universe Books, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, M.W. Age strata in social systems. In R.H. Binstock & E. Shanas (Eds.),Handbook of aging and the social sciences. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976. Pp. 189 – 217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, R.H.Family interaction and transaction: The developmental approach. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenmayr, L . The family—A source of hope for the elderly? In E. Shanas & M.B. Sussman (Eds).Family, bureaucracy and the elderly. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1977. Pp. 132–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosow, I. Status and role change through the life span. In R.H. Binstock & E. Shanas (Eds.),Handbook of aging and the social sciences. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976. Pp. 457 – 482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schorr, A.L.Filial responsibility in the modern American family. Washington, D.C.: Social Security Administration, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E. Family responsibility and the health of the older people.Journal of Gerontology, 1960, 75, 408 – 411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E.The health of older people: A social survey. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E. Social myth as hypothesis: The case of family relations of old people.The Gerontologist,1979,19,3–9. (a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E. The family as a social support system in old age.The Gerontologist,1979,19,169–174. (b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E., & Streib, G.F. (Eds.).Social structure and the family: Generational relations. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanas, E., Townsend, P., Wedderburn, D., Fritz, H., & Milhoj, P.Old people in three industrial societies. New York: Atherton Press, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soldo, B.J., & Meyers, G.C.The effects of total fertility on living arrangements among elderly women. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society, New York, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Streib, G.F. Intergenerational relations: Perspectives of the two generations on the older patent.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1965,27, 469 – 476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sussman, M.B. The isolated nuclear family: Fact or fiction.Social Problems, 1959,6, 333 – 340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sussman, M.B. Intergenerational family relationships and social role changes in middle age.Journal of Gerontology, 1960, 75, 71 – 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sussman, M.B. The family life of old people. In R.H. Binstock & E. Shanas (Eds.),Handbook of aging and the social sciences. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976. Pp. 218 – 243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sussman, M.B. Family, bureaucracy and the elderly individual: An organizational/linkage perspective. In E. Shanas & M.B. Sussman (Eds.),Family, bureaucracy and the elderly. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1977. Pp. 2 – 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sussman, M.B., & Burchinal, L.G. Kin family network: Unheralded structure in current conceptualizations of kin functioning.Marriage and Family Living, 1962,24, 231 – 240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, R.G., & Nardi, P.M. The dynamics of role acquisition.American Journal of Sociology, 1975,80, 870 – 885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townsend, P. The effects of family structure on the likelihood of admission to an institution in old age: The application of a general theory. In E. Shanas & G. Streib (Eds.),Social structure and the family: Generational relationships. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1965. Pp. 163 – 187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troll, L.E., Miller, S.J., & Atchley, R.C.Families in later life. California: Wadsworth, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wake, S.B., & Sporakowski, M.J. An intergenerational comparison of attitudes towards supporting aged parents.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1972,34, 42 – 48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, USA

    Helen Jeanne Mederer

Authors
  1. Helen Jeanne Mederer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Vernon L. Allen

  2. Department of Social Psychology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Evert van de Vliert

  3. Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands

    Evert van de Vliert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mederer, H.J. (1984). The Transition to a Parent-Caring Role by Adult Children. In: Allen, V.L., van de Vliert, E. (eds) Role Transitions. NATO Conference Series, vol 23. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2697-7_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2697-7_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9676-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2697-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation