Definition
Intergenerational exchanges are a subset of the larger domain of human behaviors that comprise the realm of intergenerational relations. Scholarly work in this sphere has identified six dimensions of intergenerational cohesion or solidarity that underlie and shape the relations and the exchanges between the generations (Bengtson and Roberts 1991). They include (1) structure (geographical proximity), (2) association (contact), (3) affect, (4) consensus, (5) function (exchange), and (6) norms (mutual obligation). The last two of these six dimensions – exchange and obligation – constitute the core of the intergenerational exchange phenomenon, which is the focus of this entry.
The intergenerational exchange construct refers to the variety of transfers that take place between people of different generations. Such actions may involve, for example, the exchange of monetary and material...
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Litwin, H. (2019). Intergenerational Exchanges. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_508-1
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