Extending the Intergenerational Stake Hypothesis: Evidence of an Intraindividual Stake and Implications for Well-Being.
The intergenerational stake hypothesis suggests that parents are more invested in their children and experience better quality parent-child ties than do their children. In this study the authors examined variation in reports of relationship quality regarding parents and children intraindividually (do people report better quality ties with their children than with their parents?) and whether within-person variations have implications for well-being. Participants age 40-60 (N = 633) reported on their relationship quality (importance, positive and negative quality) with their parents and adult children. Individuals reported their relationships with children were more important and more negative than relationships with parents. Individuals with feelings that were in the opposite direction of the intergenerational stake hypothesis (i.e., greater investment in parents than children) reported poorer well-being. The findings provide support for the intergenerational stake hypothesis with regard to within-person variations in investment and show that negative relationship quality may coincide with greater feelings of investment.
Life Course Development Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Kira S
KS
Birditt
Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, 911 Pickens St, Sloan College, No. 321, Columbia, SC 29208.
Caroline Sten
CS
Hartnett
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX 78712-1248.
Karen L
KL
Fingerman
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University. Heath and Human Development East 305, University Park, PA 16802.
Steven
S
Zarit
Life Course Development Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Toni C
TC
Antonucci
intergenerational relationships; parent–child relationships; well-being