Family climate and parent-child relationships: Recollections from a nonclinical sample of adult children of alcoholic fathers

Abstract Intergenerational transfers measured in several currencies (e.g. co-residence, contact, proximity and support) have been always considered important indicators for family solidarity. Most of the studies on intergenerational transfers examine the structural characteristics of such exchanges (as distance, frequency, type, motives), emphasising the potential positive association between the structure and the quality of parent–child relationships. Additionally, while most surveys include questions on the structural indicators of family exchanges, it is still uncommon for them to contain assessments of the relationships between parents and their adult children as well. Using the Italian 2009 Family Survey, this study analyses the satisfaction of parent–child relationships for parents aged 65 and older. After examining the association of such a variable with the structural indicators of intergenerational exchanges (frequency of contact), we explored the individual factors associated with satisfaction of relationships with a child using multilevel multinomial models. Overall, older Italian parents report high satisfaction in their relationships with their adult children. Additionally, a not strong, but statistically significant association between structure (contact) and satisfaction was found. This study shows how high satisfaction of relationships with children is positively associated with being a mother and being married and negatively associated with bad health status. Some of the variables considered have different impacts between the sexes of parents. Additionally, a better appreciation of relationships with daughters compared to sons was found, especially for fathers.

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Perceived quality of parent-child relationships and attitudes toward filial duty contracts among young adult children

Journal of Family Relations ◽

10.21321/jfr.22.3.155 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 155-183

Author(s):

Jehee Kim ◽

Gyesook Yoo

Keyword(s):

Young Adult ◽

Adult Children ◽

Perceived Quality ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

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An Examination of the Developmental Impact of Continuing Destructive Parental Conflict on Young Adult Children

Illness Crisis & Loss ◽

10.1177/1054137317709581 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 175-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Fozard ◽

Peter Gubi

Keyword(s):

Young Adult ◽

Adult Children ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Role Reversal ◽

Parental Conflict ◽

Growing Up ◽

The Impact ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

This research investigates the impact of destructive parental conflict in continuously married parents, on young adult children. Four trainee or practicing counselors, who had personal experience of growing up in families in which there was continuing destructive parental conflict, were interviewed. The data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings resulted in four superordinate themes: feelings of loss, impact to family structure, trauma associated with the conflict, and impacts to personal and professional development, within which were 12 subordinate themes. Short-term impacts focused on mental health and self-esteem, and loss of security at home. Long-term impacts focused on future relationships, defensiveness, parent–child role-reversal, impacts to career, trauma, and parent–child relationships. The results demonstrate the necessity for support to be made available to children who are exposed to destructive parental conflict in parents who remain married, as well as to the adult children of continuing destructive parental conflict.

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Families as niches during communism in East Germany: Consequences for parent–child relationships during times of change

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025408093660 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 412-421 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Olaf Reis

Keyword(s):

Adult Children ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Narrative Interviews ◽

Government Institutions ◽

The Family ◽

East German ◽

Communist Government ◽

Log Linear ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

This study brings together two main theoretical traditions in order to better understand how parent–child relationships are influenced by the societal conditions around the family. The concept of the ecological niche has been used to describe the way in which East German families dealt with government institutions during communism, while we used the concept of individuation to describe relationships between parents and their children. Using a model predicting individuation within a family we demonstrate that the type of niche predicts individuation even after intrafamilial variables, such as the level of parent–child conflict, agency and time of the interaction have been controlled for. By employing hierarchical log-linear techniques to analyze narrative interviews of parents and their adult children from 34 families, we found that families who were more balanced in their interactions with communist government institutions were also more balanced in their parent–child individuations.

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Older people's relationships with their adult children in multicultural Australia: a comparison of Australian-born people and Chinese immigrants

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x16000829 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 2103-2127 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

XIAOPING LIN ◽

CHRISTINA BRYANT ◽

JENNIFER BOLDERO ◽

BRIONY DOW

Keyword(s):

Adult Children ◽

Filial Piety ◽

Chinese Immigrants ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Conflict Model ◽

Older Chinese ◽

To Receive ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

ABSTRACTAgainst the background of population ageing and increasing cultural diversity in many Western countries, the study examined differences and similarities between Australian-born people and Chinese immigrants in their relationships with adult children. The specific research questions were: (a) are there differences between these groups in the nature of parent–child relationships; and (b) if there were differences, did these differences reflect the Confucian concept of filial piety among older Chinese immigrants. The solidarity–conflict model and the concept of ambivalence were used to quantify parent–child relationships. Data from 122 community-dwelling people aged 65 and over (60 Australian-born and 62 Chinese-born people) were collected using standardised interviews. There were significant differences between the two groups for all relationship dimensions except associative solidarity. Compared to Australian participants, Chinese participants were more likely to live with their children. However, when they did not live with their children, they lived further away. They were also more likely to receive, but less likely to provide, instrumental help. Finally, they reported higher levels of normative solidarity, conflict and ambivalence, and lower levels of affectual and consensual solidarity. The differences in solidarity dimensions persisted when socio-demographic variables were controlled for. The study revealed complex differences in the nature of older parent–child relationships between Australian-born people and Chinese immigrants. Some of these differences, such as more prevalent multigenerational living among older Chinese immigrants, likely reflect the strong influence of filial piety among this group. However, differences in other dimensions, such as lower levels of consensual solidarity, might be associated with the Chinese participants’ experience as immigrants. This study also highlights the usefulness of the solidarity–conflict model as a theoretical framework to understand the nature of parent–child relationships among older Chinese immigrants.

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