INEQUALITIES IN INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: THE SUPPORT PARENTS PROVIDE TO THEIR ADULT CHILDREN

Year 2023, Volume: 45, 47 - 70, 31.12.2023

Gülçin Con Wrıght

Abstract

As life expectancy increases, parents and children enjoy longer time together, elevating the importance of intergenerational ties for the well- being of both generations. Intergenerational support exchanges are shaped by changes in population and family structure. Most research has studied the upward flow of support from adult children to their older parents in need of care. Yet, it is also known that the downward flow of support continues unless a parent is widowed or in need of care. The main objective of this qualitative study is to examine the changing mechanisms of parental support to adult children. The data for this study was collected through in-depth interviews with 21 mothers and 15 fathers on their intergenerational ties. To analyze within-family differences, I gathered data from parents on their ties with each of their adult children. Analyses revealed three forms of inequalities in the parental provision of financial and in-kind childcare support to adult children: inequalities between mothers and fathers, inequalities among children within the same family, and inequalities across families with different SES backgrounds. By examining the inequalities in intergenerational support mechanisms, this study aims to make a significant contribution to both the literature and social policies on intergenerational solidarity.

Keywords

Parent-adult child ties, intergenerational support, within-family analysis, SES

KUŞAKLARARASI İLİŞKİLERDE EŞİTSİZLİKLER: EBEVEYNLERİN YETİŞKİN ÇOCUKLARINA SAĞLADIĞI DESTEKLER

Abstract

Yaşam sürelerindeki artışla birlikte ebeveynler ve çocuklarının birlikte daha uzun yıllar geçirmesi, kuşaklararası bağların her iki kuşağın iyiliğinde önemli bir rol sahibi olmasını sağlamaktadır. Bir diğer yandan, ebeveyn-yetişkin çocuk arasındaki kuşaklararası destek alışverişi özellikle nüfusta ve aile yapısındaki değişimlerle biçimlenmekte ve karmaşıklaşmaktadır. Her ne kadar yaşlılık dönemi yetişkin çocuklardan bakıma muhtaç yaşlı ebeveynlere doğru artan destek akışı ile bağdaştırılsa da yapılan çalışmalar dulluk ve muhtaçlık dışında ebeveynlerin çocuklarına yetişkinlikten sonra da destek sağlamaya devam ettiklerini göstermektedir. Bu nitel çalışmanın temel amacı, ebeveynlerin yetişkin çocuklarına verdikleri desteğin mekanizmalarını incelemektir. Bu çalışmanın verileri, 21 anne ve 15 baba ile yapılan derinlemesine görüşmelerden elde edilmiştir. Aile içi farklılıkları analiz etmek için ebeveynlerden yetişkin çocuklarının her birine sağladıkları destek hakkında kapsamlı veri toplanmıştır. Analizler ışığında, ebeveynlerin yetişkin çocuklara maddi ve çocuk bakımı destek mekanizmalarında üç eşitsizlik örüntüsü ortaya konmuştur: anne ve babalar arasındaki eşitsizlik, aynı ailedeki çocuklar arasındaki eşitsizlik ve farklı sosyoekonomik seviyeye sahip aileler arasındaki eşitsizlik. Bu çalışma, kuşaklararası destek mekanizmalarındaki eşitsizlikleri inceleyerek hem yazına hem de kuşaklararası dayanışmayı hedef alan sosyal politikalara bir katkı sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

Ebeveyn-yetişkin çocuk ilişkileri, kuşaklararası destek, aile içi analiz, SES

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