Adult Children’s Problems and Mothers’ Well-Being

Abstract

This article explores whether understanding of the effects of children’s problems on older parents’ well-being can be advanced by exploring differences in parent–child relationships within families. Using data from a study in which mothers reported on all adult children, we addressed the question: Do patterns of maternal favoritism moderate the impact of children’s problems on psychological well-being? Based on the literature on the effects of children’s problems and on parental favoritism, we hypothesized that problems in the lives of favored adult children will have a more detrimental impact than when they affect unfavored offspring. Results revealed strong and detrimental effects of any offspring’s problems on mothers’ well-being; these effects occurred, however, regardless of parental preference for an adult child. The findings suggest that the well-documented effects of parental preference may be limited in domains such as problems and difficult transitions in adult children’s lives.

Does Children’s Union Dissolution Hurt Elderly Parents? Linked Lives, Divorce and Mental Health in Europe

“…Older parents develop feelings of empathy towards their adult–children’s lives, and thus both positive and negative events in children’s life course can reverberate into the mental health status of the parents (Batson 1998; Lawton et al 1994; Knoester 2003). Studies show that children’s exposure to problematic and stressful experiences, such as illnesses, financial hardships, and drinking or drug problems, is associated with a decline in parent’s mental health (Greenfield and Marks 2006; Milkie et al 2008; Pillemer and Suitor 1991; Pillemer et al 2017). When divorce leads to the interruption of a very conflictive relationship between partners, marital break-up can have no effect on well-being or even imply some psychological benefits for both adult children and their parents.…”

Millennials and Their Parents: Implications of the New Young Adulthood for Midlife Adults

“…Researchers have found that even one grown child experiencing one problem has a negative effect on a midlife parent, regardless of how successful other children in the family might be ( Fingerman, Cheng, Birditt, & Zarit, 2012 ). Similarly, in late life, mothers suffer when grown children experience such crises, irrespective of their favoritism or feelings about the grown child ( Pillemer, Suitor, Riffin, & Gilligan, 2017 ). These effects on parental well-being may reflect a variety of responses including a sense that one has failed in the parenting role, worry about the child, empathy with the grown child, or stress of trying to ameliorate the situation (Fingerman, Cheng, Birditt, et al, 2012 ; Hay, Fingerman, & Lefkowitz, 2008 ).…”

“…Thus, norms for parental involvement with grown children and the economic context may shape the implications of that involvement for parents’ marital ties and well-being. Parents are harmed when they believe their grown children should be more autonomous (Fingerman, Cheng, Wesselmann, et al, 2012 ; Pillemer et al, 2017 ).…”

Translating Basic Research on the Aging Family to Caregiving Intervention: The Case of Within-Family Differences

“…A large body of research indicates that such situations may cause substantial distress for parents, due to their emotional stake in the normative development of their offspring and their anxiety regarding the well-being of the child ( Fingerman et al, 2013 ; Pillemer, Suitor, Riffin, & Gilligan, 2017 ). Because of the emphasis on the stresses incurred by adult children caring for parents, this reverse pathway to parental distress may be ignored in practice settings.…”