Intergenerational relationships essentially imply the exchange of resources between younger and older persons in the extended family and the society as a whole. From a gerontological perspective, giving help to elderly parents and grandparents, and receiving help from adult (grand)children, typify the central phenomenon of the intergenerational exchange in middle and late adulthood. From a comprehensive life-span developmental perspective, the younger as well as the older adults may be recipients, respectively, providers of intergenerational support. Exchange of support in adult-elderly parent dyads, or between younger and older generations in general, basically implies bi-directionality and reciprocity. This is nicely clarified by the five papers, in this special section, presenting the results of excellent sociological and psychological investigations of different aspects, societal contexts and determinants of the intergenerational transfers, solidarity and support in European families and countries.Three studies are cross-national in nature. Two of them study intergenerational transfers and intergenerational solidarity, respectively (Attias-Donfut et al. 2005;Daatland and Lowenstein 2005). These articles contribute to the formation of a multifaceted view on parent care and elder care in a number of European countries. In what follows, I reflect on three comprehensive sets of variables constituting, respectively, determining parent care in adult children, and care for the elderly in ageing societies: (1) what is given or received: transfers, assistance, help and care, (2) caregiver(s) and care-receiver(s) characteristics, and (3) context variables.
Intergenerational transfers: kinds and measuresIntergenerational transfers, solidarity and help (assistance/support) are the concepts used to indicate the flow of giving and receiving resources within the extended family and the society as a whole. Intergenerational transfer is the most generic term, generally used in economic and sociological research. Intergenerational solidarity is frequently used in sociological research and the terms help, support and assistance primarily figure in psychological research. Attias-Donfut et al. (2005) focus on transfers. They contrast timerelated transfers outside the household with financial transfers inside or outside the household. This dichotomy proved to be useful in view of a better understanding of the determinants of the intergenerational transfers in relation to demographic variables in ten European countries. Daatland and Lowenstein (2005) focus on intergenerational family solidarity in urban populations of five countries with diverse family cultures (more individualistic versus more collectivistic)