A change is (not) gonna come: a 20-year overview of Italian grandparent–grandchild exchanges

Levels of coresidence, residential proximity, face-to-face contacts and intergenerational support exchanges remain overall high and stable across European countries. However, to date, few studies have focused on trends in grandparent–grandchild relations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether and to what extent grandparent–grandchild exchanges have changed over time. We used data from the Italian Family and Social Subjects (FSS) Surveys, covering the years 1998–2016, and considered three different currencies of exchanges between grandparents and their grandchildren (coresidence, face-to-face contacts, and grandchild care provision). Our results showed stability over time in coresidence, a small reduction in daily contacts (from 47% in 1998 to 39% in 2016) and an increase in grandchildren care (from 78% in 1998 to 82% in 2016). In addition, we found little changes in the associations between such indicators of intergenerational exchanges and the demographic and socio-economic determinants usually used to explain them. Despite changes among Italian grandparents such as increases in their age profile, in education, and in marital disruption, the relations between grandparents and their grandchildren have so far remained stable over time, with generally high levels of intergenerational exchanges.

Patterns and Predictors of Taiwanese Adult Children’s Intergenerational Exchanges Before and After Economic Stagnation

This study explores whether cultural norms and economic performance shape the differences in the patterns of intergenerational exchanges, and analyzes whether structural, normative, or emotional dimensions of intergenerational solidarity predict the derived typology of intergenerational exchange in Taiwan before and after economic stagnation. Data derives from nationally representative samples of adult children with at least one parent alive in 2006 and 2016. Latent class analysis (LCA), measurement invariance with LCA, and multinomial logistic regression analysis are applied to analyze data. The results demonstrate how filial norms and economic stagnation influence the intergenerational exchange patterns. The study identifies five classes of intergenerational exchanges. There was a higher proportion of the high-exchange membership in the period of salary growth, while there was a higher proportion of the memberships of emotion-oriented exchanges during the wage stagnation period. Results reveal that geographic distance exerts a stronger and more consistent association with various exchange patterns.

A Change is (not) Gonna Come: A twenty-year overview of Italian grandparents-grandchildren exchanges

Levels of coresidence, residential proximity, face-to-face contacts and intergenerational support exchanges remain overall high and stable across European countries. However, to date, few studies have focused on trends in grandparent-grandchild relations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether and to what extent grandparent-grandchild exchanges have changed over time. We used data from the Italian Surveys on Family, covering the years 1998-2016, and considered three different currencies of exchanges between grandparents and their grandchildren (coresidence, face-to-face contacts, and grandchild care provision). Our results showed an astonishing stability over time in these indicators of grandparent-grandchild exchanges, with only a small reduction in daily contacts. Also, we found little changes in the associations between such indicators of intergenerational exchanges and the demographic and socio-economic determinants usually used to explain them. Despite changes among Italian grandparents such as increases in their age profile, in education, and in marital disruption, the relations between grandparents and their grandchildren remain stable over time with generally high levels of intergenerational exchanges.

"The Elderly"

Older people in Aotearoa New Zealand too often experience negative attitudes or behaviours towards them based on their age. A pertinent example of this is the term “the elderly.” The objective of this research was to understand how stereotypes of “the elderly” are portrayed in the online arena in social and public spaces. Within Aotearoa New Zealand, 155 online media items using terms like “the elderly” and “elderly” were tracked, recorded and analysed during 2019 to determine stereotypical meanings of “the elderly.” Results revealed use of the term “the elderly” reflected various stereotyping and ageist discourses in the message. Labelling older people as “the elderly” may perpetuate social exclusion and discrimination faced by older people. As educators, we have a responsibility to create opportunities for meaningful intergenerational exchanges and relationship building within our teaching and learning activities.

WHANAUNGATANGA AND FILIAL PIETY: INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGES IN CONTEMPORARY MAORI AND KOREAN CULTURES

Every culture has its own tradition of intergenerational exchange based on accepted norms, while the meanings of traditional filial values have evolved over time. This paper aims to identify the various forms of filial care, support and respect for older people in Maori and Korean cultures, and reconceptualise current ways of intergenerational exchanges in both physical and virtual contexts. Data were collected through a qualitative inquiry framework consisting of 32 individual interviews and 5 ethnographic observations in New Zealand and South Korea. Thematic analysis of the data was used to identify themes and patterns from the participants’ perspectives and experiences in the multilingual research context. In this cross-cultural study, for Māori participants, whanaungatanga (family relationships) was recognised as a core value that places whanau (family) at the centre of whakapapa (human and non-human relations). For Korean participants, their tradition of filial piety has continued to constitute a major component of familism mindsets and practices, while their ability to support their parents and maintain connections to their ancestors varied. Being knowledgeable about the traditional values of intergenerational solidarity helped generations feel connected and supported by each other, although both monetary and non-monetary support for one’s elders has come under strain due to the impact of changes in family ties and social dynamics. Technological developments have reshaped traditional filial practices, offering new ways of intergenerational exchanges. Redefining whanaungatanga and filial piety can provide a theoretical basis for developing the concept of extended social work through avoiding excessive individualism and culture-blind approaches.

Intergenerational Exchanges in East Asia: A New Look at Financial Transfers

Adult children’s financial support for parents, which has been considered a primary representation of filial values in East Asian society, is not sufficient to understand contemporary familial reciprocation. To fully understand the detailed structure of intergenerational exchange in this region, this study proposes a new two-way typology to look at how parents both give and take with adult children. Using the 2006 East Asian Social Survey, the authors found a high frequency of financial exchange between generations, especially upward transfer, in South Korea, Taiwan, and China. Japan is a case more distant from the Confucian ideal type of family due to high prevalence of independence between parents and children regarding financial exchange. Cross-country differences are much remarked. The limited effects produced by gender and sibling orders in financial transfer show the decreasing influence of patriarchalism in East Asia.