Without the ties that bind: U.S. young adults who lack active parental relationships

Hartnett, Caroline Sten; Fingerman, Karen L.; Birditt, Kira S.

doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2018.01.004

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It would be remiss to imply that all midlife parents have frequent contact with their grown children, however, because a small group shows the opposite trend. From the child’s perspective, national data reveal 20% of young adults lack contact with a father, and 6.5% lack contact with a mother figure in the United States ( Hartnett, Fingerman, & Birditt, 2017 ). Similarly, research examining Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults suggests that some parents reject grown children who declare a minority sexuality or gender identity, but this appears to be a relatively rare occurrence.…”

Section: What Has Changed In Parents’ Ties To Young Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Death accounted for some of the lack of parents (4% of young adults lack a father due to death and 3% lack a mother). Rather, divorce, incarceration, and other factors such as addiction or earlier placement in foster care may account for estrangement from a parent figure ( Hartnett et al, 2017 ). Of course, estrangement may be different from the parents’ perspective.…”

Section: What Has Changed In Parents’ Ties To Young Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mothers who raise children alone typically have stronger ties when those children grow into young adults. By contrast, never-married fathers may have little contact and are more likely to be estranged from those children ( Hartnett et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Why Parent/offspring Ties Have Changedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parents respond to their children’s characteristics and their sense of compatibility with each child. Parents provide support in reaction to crises (e.g., divorce, illness) or ongoing everyday needs associated with a child’s statuses (e.g., child is a parent; student) or age ( Hartnett et al, 2017 ). Parents also are more likely to give support to young adult and midlife children whom they view as successful, with whom they have closer relationships, or with whom they share values ( Kalmijn, 2013b ; Suitor, Pillemer, & Sechrist, 2006 ; Suitor et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Why Parent/offspring Ties Have Changedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Fingerman

2017

Innovation in Aging

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The period of young adulthood has transformed dramatically over the past few decades. Today, scholars refer to “emerging adulthood” and “transitions to adulthood” to describe adults in their 20s. Prolonged youth has brought concomitant prolonged parenthood. This article addresses 3 areas of change in parent/child ties, increased (a) contact between generations, (b) support from parents to grown children as well as coresidence and (c) affection between the generations. We apply the Multidimensional Intergenerational Support Model (MISM) to explain these changes, considering societal (e.g., economic, technological), cultural, family demographic (e.g., fertility, stepparenting), relationship, and psychological (normative beliefs, affection) factors. Several theoretical perspectives (e.g., life course theory, family systems theory) suggest that these changes may have implications for the midlife parents’ well-being. For example, parents may incur deleterious effects from (a) grown children’s problems or (b) their own normative beliefs that offspring should be independent. Parents may benefit via opportunities for generativity with young adult offspring. Furthermore, current patterns may affect future parental aging. As parents incur declines of late life, they may be able to turn to caregivers with whom they have intimate bonds. Alternately, parents may be less able to obtain such care due to demographic changes involving grown children raising their own children later or who have never fully launched. It is important to consider shifts in the nature of young adulthood to prepare for midlife parents’ future aging.

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Section: What Has Changed In Parents’ Ties To Young Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What Has Changed In Parents’ Ties To Young Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Why Parent/offspring Ties Have Changedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Why Parent/offspring Ties Have Changedmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

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

Fingerman

2017

Innovation in Aging

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“…Due to a variety of societal changes, Bengtson's predictions have borne true: Ties between adults and parents are now more common than any other relationship in adulthood. Although data are not available regarding the prevalence of parent–adult child ties throughout the population, 98% of U.S. adults aged 25 to 32 years report that they have regular contact with at least one parent (Hartnett, Fingerman, & Birditt, ). Furthermore, consistent with Bengtson's predictions, during the past 15 years, individuals are at greater risk of lacking a romantic partner due to diminished rates of marriage, stable (relatively high) rates of divorce, and delayed first marriages; these changes have generated greater involvement between adult offspring and parents.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Decade of Research on Intergenerational Ties: Technological, Economic, Political, and Demographic Changes

Fingerman

Huo

Birditt

2020

J of Marriage and Family

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119

104

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Due to extended transitions to adulthood and declining marital rates, bonds between adults and parents have grown increasingly salient in individuals' lives. This review organizes research around these topics to address ties between parents and grown children in the context of broader societal changes over the past decade. Literature searches included tables of contents of premier journals (e.g., Journal of Marriage and Family), Psychological Info, and Google Scholar. The literature review revealed patterns of social and intergenerational changes. Technological advances (e.g., introduction of the smart phone) co‐occurred with more frequent contact and interdependence between generations. The Great Recession and financial strains altered the nature of many parent/child ties, including increased rates of intergenerational coresidence. Individual life problems such as divorce, addiction, and physical health problems were reflected in complex changes in positive and negative relationship qualities, ambivalence, and intergenerational support. Government policies reflect societal values and in turn, affected the distribution of parents' and grown children's resources. Political disruptions instigated migration, separating generations across large geographic regions. Political disruptions instigated migration, separating generations across large geographic regions. Demographic changes (e.g., constellation of family members, delayed marriage, same sex marriage) were also manifest in ties between adults and parents. Findings were consistent with the Intergenerational Systems in Context Model, which posits that societal transformations co‐occur with changes in intergenerational relationships via reciprocal influences.

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A new perspective on the generational structures of families – Generational placements over the life course

Hünteler

2022

Advances in Life Course Research

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Without the ties that bind: U.S. young adults who lack active parental relationships

Cited by 22 publications

References 41 publications

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

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

A Decade of Research on Intergenerational Ties: Technological, Economic, Political, and Demographic Changes

A new perspective on the generational structures of families – Generational placements over the life course

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