Solidarity and Conflict Between Adult Children and Parents: A Latent Class Analysis

This study examines the typologies of adult son–parent and daughter–parent relations in Hong Kong, a place where East meets West. Data were drawn from a survey of 834 adult children (381 sons and 453 daughters) aged between 18 and 60 with at least one living parent. Latent class analysis identified four types of relations for both son-parent and daughter-parent relations: tight-knit, distant ascending ties, obligatory, and detached. Sons were more likely to engage in obligatory and tight-knit relations with parents, whereas daughters were more likely to engage in distant ascending ties relations. Multinomial logistic regression found that adult children who were young, single, or co-residing with their own child aged above 18 were more likely to have tight-knit relations with their elderly parents. Our findings suggest that although the male-dominated norm remains influential in Hong Kong, daughters are increasingly maintaining close interactions with their parents.

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Relationship Quality With Adult Children Among Grandparent Caregivers

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 75-75

Author(s):

Heejung Jang

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Latent Class Analysis ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Adult Children ◽

Latent Class ◽

Well Being ◽

Class Analysis ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Grandparent Caregivers ◽

Grandparent Caregiving

Abstract For the increasing number of grandparent caregivers, relationship quality with adult children has important implications for the well-being of grandparents. Based on solidarity, conflict, and ambivalence, the present study examines how parent-adult children's relationships differ by grandparent caregiving status on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. This study uses The 2014 Health and Retirement Study from a sample of 1,197 grandparent caregivers age 51 and older. Latent class analysis is applied to measure affection and conflict in older grandparents-adult children relationships. Results from the latent class analysis identified four clusters: amicable, ambivalent, detached, and disharmonious. OLS regression models are estimated the association between relationship types and depressive symptoms and psychological well-being by grandparent caregiving. For the depressive symptoms, disharmonious relationships with adult children increase depressive symptoms among co-parenting and custodial grandparents. Also, ambivalent and disharmonious relationships with adult children reduce the psychological well-being of older grandparents. The study discusses the variances of the relationships with adult children and their effects on grandparents’ well-being. The results will shed light on the importance of familial relationships and will be beneficial for the development and maintenance of policies and practices that support the families of grandparent caregivers.

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