Intergenerational Family Relations in Adulthood: Patterns, Variations, and Implications in the Contemporary United States

Recent research suggests that intergenerational relations—the relationships between adult children and their parents in particular—are becoming increasingly important to Americans. Two main social forces appear to be driving these changes: marital instability and broader demographic shifts. Intergenerational relationships involve both affective ties and more instrumental forms of support such as financial resources or child care. Although actual material assistance tends to be episodic and ...