title: Parental support during young adulthood: Why does assistance decline with age?
abstract: Previous research has found that financial transfers from parents to young adult children decline as children age and that age is one of the strongest predictors of support. Using data collected from young adults (ages 18 to 34) and their parents (ages 40 to 60; N=536 parent-child dyads), we explore the possibility that the relationship between age and financial support is mediated by offspring needs, acquisition of adult roles, or geographical and emotional closeness. We find that age-related declines in offspring's needs help to explain why financial support falls with age. However, offspring age remains a robust predictor of financial support after controlling for a wide range of factors, suggesting that age norms condition support from parents to offspring.
authors: University of Michigan, Population Studies Center, ISR, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, T: 401-965-4213, F: 215-898-2124.
authors: Caroline Sten
authors: CS
authors: Hartnett
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Furstenberg
authors: Kira
authors: K
authors: Birditt
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Fingerman
keywords: Aging; Intergenerational transfers; Social support; Transition to adulthood
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