Young adults of the twenty-first century face a long path to adulthood marked by uncertainty and lack of stability. In response, young adults are heading back to or failing to leave their family homes in higher numbers than generations before (Jacobsen and Mather 2011; Qian 2012). These macro-level trends bring about questions about their impact on family relationships as well as how these relationships have evolved over time. My thesis investigates parent-child relationships during co-residence with a specific focus on generation and gender differences. Through secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Families and Households, I explore how parent-child relationships during co-residence differ between parents of Generation Xer young adults (born between 1965-1980) and Millennial young adults (born between 1981-1996). Additionally, I examine gender differences between these two generational cohorts. My findings offer support that intergenerational relationships are not necessary closer, but look different for parents of Millennials as compared to Generation Xers. I also find that there are significant gender differences between mothers and fathers of Generation Xers versus those of Millennials. I find that mothers of Generation Xers report more time shared with co-residing young adults and increased frequency of perceived emotional support from their child than fathers; yet, fathers of Millennials report more perceived support than mothers. I suggest these findings offer support for the notion that gendered roles play out into young adulthood and potentially have more flexibility for fathers across time. As the economic and social landscape continues to change and present more uncertainty, family relationships become a form of social security; thus it becomes increasingly important to understand these dynamics. My findings are significant as they contribute to a better understanding of parent-child relationships over time and offer discussion on the potential implications.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parental divorce and family conflict during adolescence on young adult females' social support and psychological adjustment. The three areas explored were perceptions of relationship satisfaction and closeness, sources and amount of social support and adjustment. One hundred and forty-one female undergraduates, 53% from families in which their parents are still married and 47% from families in which a parental divorce occurred during adolescence, completed the following measures: the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), the Social Provisions Scale-Source Specific (Cutrona, 1989), the Inventory of Common Problems (Hoffman & Weiss, 1986), the Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1981), and the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985).

Diplomová práce "Jak se žije dospělým dětem alkoholiků" se zabývá problematikou dospělých, kteří mají zkušenost dětství prožitého v rodině s rodičem-alkoholikem. Jedná se o kvalitativní studii, jejímž cílem je dopovědět na následující otázky: Jak vlastně vypadá dětství, dospívání a následně dospělý život lidí, kteří mají za sebou zkušenost dítěte alkoholika? Jak vypadá takové rodinné prostředí? Existují nějaká témata společná těm, kteří vyrůstali v takovém prostředí? Teoretická část obsahuje dosavadní poznatky studií, které se tématem dospělých dětí alkoholiků zabývají. Popisuje charakteristiky jak rodinného prostředí, tak způsoby uvažování a prožívání dospělých dětí alkoholiků. Metodologická část obsahuje definici výzkumného problému, metody získávání vzorku (samovýběr), metodu získávání dat (nestrukturované interview) a způsob jejich zpracování (narativní analýza, metody zachycení vzorců). Analytická část obsahuje samotné zpracování dat pěti respondentů. Jednotlivé příběhy nahlíženy jako určité životní konfigurace. Následně je uvedeno 28 témat, která jsou v různé míře respondentům výzkumu společná.

This study examined the lived experiences of adult children of mid-later life parental divorce. It was designed and conducted to address the gap in the current literature regarding this phenomenon. The experiences of 5 Adult Children of Divorce (ACD) ages 25 to 45, who experienced mid-later life parental divorce, were examined using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The researcher employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of which the findings illustrated various outcomes for adults experiencing their parents’ mid-later life divorce. The results of this study showed that parents’ waiting until the children are “grown” does not mitigate potentially detrimental outcomes for these “adult children.” Some of these concerns shared by the ACDs interviewed included: dealing with the shock of the divorce, the acrimonious parental relationships post divorce, feeling the need to choose sides, effects of the divorce on the ACDs' children, among others. Future studies and implications for the field of marriage and family therapy were offered.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cinthia de Carvalho Lourenco.pdf: 1539301 bytes, checksum: 29ed2eb1e4e5cf5ecfa5fb371c34370a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-07 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In the context of Post-Modernity society has been facing numerous changes in the families shapes. One of them is the attempt of a young adult to leave and, later, return to the parental home. In order to understand what motivates such phenomenon, a qualitative research including case study was made. The theoretical assumptions underlining this paper are researches and literature discussing the subject, as well as authors of the Family Systems Theory, but aiming for a differentiated interpretation. The analysis of the interviews was conducted under two guidelines: differentiation and general aspects of the exits and returns of the son to the parents house, a summary about the family s life history and a genogram. The research provided data showing the cycle of leaving and coming back to parent s house is related to certain aspects of a family dynamics, to the relationship between parents and sons and social and economic characteristics of our contemporary reality. It was noted there are few researches about the subject, especially related to its psychological aspects. Data found in current literature refers mainly about the prolonged stay of young adult with his/her parents. Therefore, it is necessary to further research on the topic in question / No contexto da Pós-Modernidade deparamo-nos com inúmeras modificações nos contornos familiares. Uma delas é a tentativa dos filhos de saírem e retornarem ao lar parental. Buscando compreender quais fatores motivam esse fenômeno foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa com delineamento de estudo de caso. Os pressupostos teóricos utilizados neste trabalho envolveram pesquisas e literatura que abordam o tema, bem como os autores da Teoria Sistêmica, com vistas no processo de diferenciação. A análise do conteúdo das entrevistas foi realizada em torno de dois eixos: diferenciação e aspectos gerais das saídas e retornos do filho à casa dos pais, elaborado um resumo sobre a história de vida dessa família e construído seu genograma. O conhecimento gerado demonstrou que as idas e vindas à casa dos pais relacionam-se aos aspectos da dinâmica familiar, ao vinculo e relacionamento estabelecido entre pais e filha, e as características do contexto socioeconômico da contemporaneidade. Averiguou-se que há pouco registro de estudos sobre o assunto, principalmente no que se refere aos aspectos psicológicos que o permeiam. Os dados encontrados na literatura atêm-se ao prolongamento dos filhos na casa dos pais, portanto, fazem-se necessárias novas pesquisas acerca do tema em questão

This thesis has examined what long-term psychological and neurological effects that are apparent in children and adults who have experienced parental divorce. It was predicted that significantly more children and adult children from divorced families would have increased symptoms of mental disorders than children and adult children from married homes e.g., anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was further predicted that parental divorce would negatively affect the neurological system in the offspring. The correlation between children of divorce and negative neurological effects was not found to be true. However, adult children of divorce have significantly lower baseline cortisol levels compared to adult children of marriage. Dysregulated cortisol levels are highly associated with the development of e.g., anxiety, depression, and brain damage. Parental divorce did not only influence how secretion of the hormone cortisol is regulated within adult children of divorce, but how both children and adult children of divorce psychologically adapt postdivorce. Children of divorce have for instance lower general well-being, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, and feel more stress than children of marriage. Adult children of divorce are more likely to experience marital discord, getting divorced themselves, anxiety and depression, lower academic performance, and substance abuse, etc. The result of the thesis suggests that children and adult children from divorced families are negatively affected, both psychologically and neurologically, regardless of age. Parental divorce and supplementary effects make it more likely for children and adult children to experience more symptoms of mental disorders.

<p>Syftet med studien är att få en djupare inblick i hur en kvinna kan påverkas som barn men även som vuxen av att växa upp i en familj där den ena föräldern är alkoholmissbrukare. Intresseområdet är att studera uppväxtförhållanden samt hur dessa påverkar individen psykiskt, fysiskt och socialt. Då tidigare forskning i huvudsak fokuserar på hur pojkar och män påverkas av att växa upp i familjer där en förälder missbrukar alkohol, inriktar sig denna studie på kvinnor. För att få en djupare inblick i problemområdet valdes en kvalitativ metod där fyra kvinnor intervjuades. I studien framkommer flera likheter mellan kvinnorna, exempelvis funktioner inom familjesystemet, så som lojalitet, samt de roller som kvinnorna antog. Studien redovisar även vissa skillnader och det visar sig att faktorer som påverkar dessa olikheter bland annat är den missbrukande förälderns kön samt närvaron av andra viktiga vuxna. Uppväxten har påverkat kvinnorna i vuxen ålder på flera sätt, exempelvis har alla, eller har haft, svårt att känna tillit samt flera har haft problematiska förhållanden till män.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study is to obtain a deeper insight regarding how a woman can be affected as a child but also as an adult by growing up in a family where one of the parents is an alcohol abuser. The field of interest is to study the childhood environment and its influence on the individual in psychological terms as well as physically and socially. Since earlier research has mainly focused on how boys and men are influenced by growing up in families where one parent is an alcoholic, this study concentrates on women. Aiming to get a deeper insight into the problem area, a qualitative method was chosen, including in-depth interviews with four women. The study reveals several similarities between the four women, including similar functions in the family system, such as loyalty, and which roles the women assumed. The study also suggests certain differences between the women and the families and it is shown that some of the factors influencing these differences are the sex of the alcohol abusing parent and the presence of other adults. Growing up in a family where one parent was an alcoholic has affected the adult women in several ways, for instance has everyone, or had, problems regarding trust and several had problematic relationships with men.</p>

<p>This article seeks to examine the effects alcohol abuse have on the growth of women and how, as adults, their lives are affected by this. It tries to encourage a better understanding and knowledge of these experiences and how instances of support and help have influenced the subject’s life, from childhood through to adulthood. Through 10 qualitative interviews of adult women, all affected by childhood alcohol abuse, the article tries to get a better understanding of how these women coped under these circumstances. The article attempts also to better understand how the women’s experiences of support during childhood have benefited them and how they feel as adults today.</p> / <p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur kvinnor som vuxit upp i familjer med alkoholmissbruk har upplevt sin uppväxt och hur vuxenlivet har blivit påverkat. Vi vill även få en ökad förståelse och kunskap om upplevelser av stöd och hjälp under de vuxna barnens barndom och fram till idag som vuxen. Genom tio kvalitativa intervjuer av vuxna kvinnor till alkoholmissbrukare har vi kunnat få en förståelse hur det var att växa upp med alkohol i familjen och hur de hanterade det som var problemfyllt. Vi ville få en förståelse hur de vuxna barnen upplevde stöd under sin barndom, vad som varit gynnande, samt hur de mår idag som vuxen.</p>

With a background in the ageing of the population and the new challenges facing individuals, families and the welfare state, the aim of this thesis is to analyse the changing family landscape and the geographical distances between elderly parents and adult children. The thesis consists of four empirical studies derived from three different sources of data: In the first paper (Paper I), historical population data is combined with modern register data for two Swedish regions. In the second and third papers, individual-level register data covering the entire Swedish population serves as the empirical starting point. The fourth paper leaves the registers aside and builds upon interviews. Paper I provides an introduction and historical background to the question of intergenerational geographical proximity and distance. The paper analyses intergenerational distances and seeks to compare and discuss the significance of the variations. It is shown that concerning extreme proximity a great decrease has occurred over 200 years, however when it comes to having kin within reach the decrease is less dramatic, and that now, just as then, a majority of elderly parents have an adult child within reach. The article concludes that even though geographical distances between generations vary over time and space, no clear linear trend towards intergenerational geographical separation can be established. In Paper II we analyse some features and trends in intergenerational distances in Sweden. We find that 10% of all elderly parents have at least one child living very close and that a majority, 85%, have an adult child within reach. The study shows no clear trend towards increasing intergenerational separation, but suggests that periods of intense societal restructuring, such urbanisation, can lead to spells of increased intergenerational separation on an aggregated level. Paper III investigates whether, and to what extent, elderly parents and adult children move close to each other. We find that even though the older generation makes up a smaller share of the moves made, when they do move they are more likely to move closer to an adult child. Further, having more than one relative at a destination adds to the attraction, and that older elderly are less likely to move close to a child than younger elderly. One interpretation is that young-old parents serve as a resource for their adult children, while older elderly are more influenced by the need for welfare state based assistance. The last paper, IV, returns to the elderly parents living very close to an adult child. In interviews with 14 elderly the aim of the paper is to gain new understanding about the interaction between intergenerational proximity, assistance and the meaning of being close. Some of the issues raised in the paper relate to migration histories, reciprocity and independence. / I två av delarbetena har författaren efternamnet Pettersson.

This article seeks to examine the effects alcohol abuse have on the growth of women and how, as adults, their lives are affected by this. It tries to encourage a better understanding and knowledge of these experiences and how instances of support and help have influenced the subject’s life, from childhood through to adulthood. Through 10 qualitative interviews of adult women, all affected by childhood alcohol abuse, the article tries to get a better understanding of how these women coped under these circumstances. The article attempts also to better understand how the women’s experiences of support during childhood have benefited them and how they feel as adults today. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur kvinnor som vuxit upp i familjer med alkoholmissbruk har upplevt sin uppväxt och hur vuxenlivet har blivit påverkat. Vi vill även få en ökad förståelse och kunskap om upplevelser av stöd och hjälp under de vuxna barnens barndom och fram till idag som vuxen. Genom tio kvalitativa intervjuer av vuxna kvinnor till alkoholmissbrukare har vi kunnat få en förståelse hur det var att växa upp med alkohol i familjen och hur de hanterade det som var problemfyllt. Vi ville få en förståelse hur de vuxna barnen upplevde stöd under sin barndom, vad som varit gynnande, samt hur de mår idag som vuxen.