This study investigates the mediation effects of adult children's ambivalence for elderly parents in the relation of psychological well-being of middle aged children with dependence and the intrusiveness of elderly parents that examines the difference of mediation effects by children's gender. We collected data from 659 middle aged children of 40 to 59 years old who have living mother or father. The main findings are as follows. First, there were mediation effects of ambivalence for elderly parents in the relation between psychological well-being of middle aged children and dependency and intrusiveness of elderly parents. The perceived dependence and intrusiveness of elderly parents had a positive influence on the ambivalence of middle aged childen for their elderly parents. Ambivalence for elderly parents had a negative effect on the psychological well-being of middle aged children. In addition, the dependence and intrusiveness of elderly parents did not directly influence the psychological well-being of middle aged children. Second, the mediation effect of ambivalence for elderly parents indicated a gender difference of middle aged children. The dependence of elderly parents affected the ambivalence for elderly parents in the woman group and the intrusiveness of elderly parents only affected ambivalence for elderly parents in the man group. The results were discussed in terms of gender difference.

This study explores the types of relationships between 410 adult children and their elderly parents based of exchange theory and the Konstanz model. In terms of the exchange of emotional, instrumental, and economic support based on exchange theory, the types of relationships identified included "support offers," "reciprocity," and "support benefits." In terms of conflict, intimacy, support offers, support benefits, and support obligations for adult children based on the Konstanz model, the type of relationships with the father included "an intimate exchange," "conflictual distance," "a conflictual sense of duty," and "a flexible exchange." The type of relationships with the mother included "an intimate exchange," "conflictual distance," "separate distance," and "a conflictual offer." There were no distinct characteristics of relationship types based on exchange theory. However, there were differences in characteristics of relation types based on the Konstanz model by gender. These results have important implications with respect to the Western model.

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