Adult Children's Problems and Successes: Implications for Intergenerational Ambivalence

Overview

Journal J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

Specialties Geriatrics
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2010 Jan 6

PMID 20047984

Citations 62

Authors

Kira S Birditt

Karen L Fingerman

Steven H Zarit

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Ambivalence theory suggests that parents experience ambivalence due to conflicting desires to help children in need and to launch children into adulthood. This study examined parents' reports of their adult children's problems and successes and implications for ambivalence. Participants aged 40-60 years (302 men and 331 women from different families) reported on up to 3 of their adult children (N = 1,251). Men and women differentiated among children in ratings of problems, successes, and ambivalence. Men and not women reported greater ambivalence regarding children with more physical-emotional problems and less career success. Men and women reported greater ambivalence regarding children with less relationship success. Consistent with ambivalence theory, individuals feel more ambivalent regarding problematic and less successful children but men's ambivalence appears to be more sensitive to their children's problems and successes than women's ambivalence.

Citing Articles

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A Decade of Research on Intergenerational Ties: Technological, Economic, Political, and Demographic Changes.

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Continuity and Change in Mothers' Favoritism Toward Offspring in Adulthood.

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Aging Parents' and Middle-Aged Children's Evaluations of Parents' Disability and Life Problems.

Lee H, Kim K, Bangerter L, Zarit S, Fingerman K J Adult Dev. 2024; 27(2):135-146.

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Recent Parental Death and Relationship Qualities Between Midlife Adults and Their Grown Children.

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