Does Gender Difference Exist in Typologies of Intergenerational Relations? Adult Son–Parent and Daughter–Parent Relations in Hong Kong

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.

Subjective Well-being, Status Identity, and Intergenerational Relations among the Elderly

This study investigates the influences of intergenerational relations on the subjective wellbeing and status identity of the elderly population in China. The project draws insights from the studies of social mobility and stratification, and that of family relations and old age support. Because of widespread exchange of economic resources across generations and strong sense of connectedness among parent and adult children families that continue to exist in Chinese society today, we hypothesize that older parents’ subjective sense of well-being and evaluation of their socioeconomic statuses are positively related with the socioeconomic conditions of their grown children, and the strength of the such relations with them. The study used the data from the 2013 China General Social Survey (CGSS), and the results provide fairly strong support to the hypotheses. The implications of the results on age-based stratification are discussed.

Linking ages – un/doing age and family in the Covid-19 pandemic

Objective: In this paper we ask how and through which social practices age and family are relationally being un/done in the course of the pandemic in Germany, and how these un/doings shape, shift or even break intergenerational relations. Background: The spread of the coronavirus and the attempts of governments to slow it down are severely affecting livelihoods worldwide. The institutionalised ageism underlying these government measures affects the youngest and oldest in society in particular (Ayalon et al. 2020; van Dyk et al. 2020). Intergenerational relations of social reproduction enacted, inter alia, through practices of eldercare, grandparenting, or voluntary work, are significantly limited in the current pandemic, as older adults are framed as an 'at-risk group', children as 'silent transmitters', and young adults as a 'risky group' (Ayalon et al. 2020; Stokes & Patterson 2020). These constructions contribute to the constitution, stabilisation and 'doing' of age in the pandemic. Method: We present findings from longitudinal research that was conducted through qualitative, problem-centred interviews between March 2020 and February 2021 with persons of different ages living in different household and care constellations in Germany. Results: Whereas in non-pandemic times doing age can be constitutive for doing family – as a constellation traditionally perceived to comprise multiple generations – we see the opposite happening in the pandemic: as age-based government measures to contain the spread of the virus limit intergenerational relations, older adults face the risk of being excluded from families. Hence, doing age can lead to a redoing or even an undoing of family. Conclusion: The paper outlines the potential of a 'linking ages' approach for the study of family lives and of intergenerational relations in times of crises.

Generacijski odnosi u delima Jovana Radulovića („Učitelj Dositej“, „Golubnjača“, „Braća po materi“ i „Od Ognjene do Blage Marije“) i njihova društvena uslovljenost

The paper examines – by using methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as comparative method – the possibilities of perceiving intergenerational relations in the families from Serbian Krajina in the works of Jovan Radulović that deal with different historical periods, as well as the causes of different internal forms of family communities, with special reference to their religious, political and economic conditionality.

Mind the gap: thoughts on intergenerational relations in medical leadership

Numerous models categorize, characterize, and explain differences among generations in society. Currently, four distinct generations are engaged in the physician pipeline from early training to late career. The distinct differences in how they view the world, their self-perceptions, and how they conduct relationships create real and imagined tensions. However, the significance of these differences is debated, as variability among those within a generation is likely larger than that between generations. Nevertheless, medical leaders and educators will be wise to develop an appreciation for generational differences to ensure that everyone may live up to their full potential. Opportunities exist to gain greater appreciation for how generational differences manifest in day-to-day interactions, adopt new approaches to interacting with those of different generations, and identify points of leverage across generations to optimize relationships and outcomes.

Prevention of the reasons intergenerational conflicts in families

Conflicts within the family between representatives of different generations are considered in order to identify the most common causes and topics of conflicts between members of the same family, intergenerational relations in families. Families with representatives of three generation were interviewed: children, parents and grandparents. Questionnaires, surveys, and interviews were used to collect statistical data. Recommendations on forecasting, prevention and management of conflict situations within the family are given.

Professionals’ views on children’s service user involvement

Purpose Children are gradually attaining recognition as service users and their involvement in service development has been advanced in recent years. This study draws on empirical research in social and health-care services designed for children and families. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how professionals understand children’s involvement as experts by experience. The focus is on professionals’ views and intergenerational relations. Design/methodology/approach The research data comprise 25 individual and 10 group interviews with managers and professionals working in social and health-care services in one Finnish province. The data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Findings The professionals recognised the value of children’s service user involvement. However, they concentrated more on the challenges than the possibilities it presents. Health-care professionals emphasised parental needs and children’s vulnerability. In turn, the professionals from social services and child welfare non-governmental organisations perceived children as partners, although with reservations, as they discussed ethical issues widely and foregrounded the responsibilities of adults in protecting children. In general, the professionals in both domains saw themselves as having ethical responsibility to support children’s service user involvement while at the same time setting limits to it. Originality/value This study confirmed the importance of taking intergenerational relations into account when developing children’s service user involvement. The results indicate that professionals also need to reflect on the ethical challenges with children themselves as, largely owing to the generational position of children as minors, they rarely perceive them as partners in ethical reflection.