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Cited by 460Intergenerational Family Dynamics and CaregivingFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsAging and Gerontology Research

Reciprocity in parent-child relations over the adult life course.

Silverstein, M., Conroy, S. J., Wang, H., Giarrusso, R., Bengtson, V. L.·2002·The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
DOI 10.1093/geronb/57.1.s3
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This research assessed how parents' transfers of sentiment, time, and financial assets to their adolescent/young adult children affect the children's propensity in middle age to provide social support to their aging parents. We tested whether the mechanism of long-term intergenerational exchange is better modeled as a return on investment, an insurance policy triggered by the longevity or physical frailty of parents, or the result of altruistic (or other nonreciprocal) motivations on the part of adult children. METHODS: Models were examined with 6 waves of data from the University of Southern California Longitudinal Study of Generations. The sample consisted of 501 children who participated in the 1971 survey and who had at least 1 parent surviving in 1985. Growth curve modeling was applied to predict average levels and rates of change in social support provided to mothers and fathers between 1985 and 1997 as a function of early parental transfers of affection, association, and tangible resources to their children. RESULTS: Children who spent more time in shared activities with their mothers and fathers in 1971 provided more support to them on average. Receiving greater financial support from parents in 1971 raised the marginal rate at which support provided by children increased over time. Maternal health operated synergistically with early affection to produce greater levels of support. Both levels and rates of increase in support from children were positive, even for children who received no early transfers from their parents. DISCUSSION: The results offer some support for investment, insurance, and altruistic models of intergenerational exchange. Sharing time in activities provides a direct return to the parent that is characteristic of an investment strategy, whereas financial transfers provide a time-contingent return that is characteristic of an insurance mechanism. That affection triggers greater support to more functionally impaired mothers suggests that emotionally investing in children as a health insurance mechanism may be based on the greater moral equity accorded to mothers. The motivation of adult children to provide social support to their older parents is partially rooted in earlier family experiences and guided by an implicit social contract that ensures long-term reciprocity.

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  • Research grounded in the intergenerational solidarity paradigm casts reciprocity as grounded in a cost-benefit analysis external to filial obligation, such that filial obligation explains parental support in the absence of reciprocity.

    “However, this research casts reciprocity as grounded in a cost-benefit analysis that is external to filial obligation. That is, filial obligation explains parental support in the absence of reciprocity.”

    From Evolution of the Conceptualization of Filial Piety in the Global Context: From Skin to Skeleton (2021) · cites this paper as Silverstein et al., 2002

    The Exchange Theory section treats norms and obligations to repay parents as central to reciprocity, rather than placing reciprocity outside obligation. The Social exchange theory section discusses altruism and other motivations for support without prior transfers; it does not identify filial obligation as the explanation for that support. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  1. Average support provided by child to mother midway between 1985 and 1997 by child's affection for mother in 1971 and latest health status of mother. Low affection and poor health were calculated as one standard deviation below their respective variable means; high af- fection and good health were calculated as one standard deviation above their respective variable means. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/57/1/S3/576201 by guest on 20 August 2023
  2. Elder, G. H. (1994). Time, human aging, and social change: Perspectives on the life course. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57, 4-15.
  3. Hollstein, B., & Bria, G. (1998). Reciprocity in parent-child relationships? Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence. Berliner Journal für Soziologie, 8, 7-22.
  4. Molm, L. D., & Cook, K. S. (1995). Social exchange and exchange net- works. In K. S. Cook, G. A. Fine, & J. S. House (Eds.), Sociological perspectives on social psychology (pp. 209-235). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

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Authors
Silverstein, M., Conroy, S. J., Wang, H., Giarrusso, R., & Bengtson, V. L.
Affiliations
University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Silverstein, M.
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2002-01-01
Volume
57
Issue
1
Pages
S3-S13
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/57.1.s3
OpenAlex
W2133242583
Cited by
460
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 26
FWCI
23.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Public Health Service (R29-13237)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG-00037, R01AG007977, T32AG000037)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
intergenerational reciprocity, parent-child relationship, intergenerational exchange, return on investment, health insurance models, altruism, parental financial support, parental love, maternal health, social contract, adult children, middle age (human life stage)
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Altruism, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Parent-Child Relations, Psychological Theory, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Intergenerational Relations

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