Adult Children's Perception of Types of Relationships with Elderly Parents

Abstract

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.