<p>Many older adults in the developing world rely on their adult children for financial, instrumental, and emotional support. The People's Republic of China (PRC), which will experience rapid population aging in the current century, is no exception. Many scholars and policy-makers are concerned that rapid economic, social, and demographic change in China is leading to a decline in traditional support for aging parents. This study examines the impact of family ties and economic resources on the receipt of support and the health of older adults across communities in China at different levels of economic development.</p><p> I analyze data from the 2002 and 2008 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) as well as the 2000 and 2005 1% Chinese Census. Initiated in 1998, the CLHLS interviewed older adults residing in a random sample of counties and cities in 22 provinces and municipalities of China. Additionally, in 2002 a subset of adult children of CLHLS respondents were also interviewed in a separate survey. Furthermore, the 2008-2009 wave collected additional data from middle-aged and older adults residing in specially designated "longevity areas" in China. In addition to the standard questionnaire and health exam, samples of blood and urine were also collected by medical personnel. </p><p> The first empirical chapter of this dissertation examines the association between filial piety/altruism and financial transfers to aging parents from adult children using factor analysis, binary logistic regression, and linear regression. The second paper looks at the socioeconomic-status health gradient using biomarker data among older adults residing in longevity areas using binary logistic regression analysis. The third paper examines both individual-level and community-level determinants of non-normative intergenerational coresidence - living with an adult daughter instead of an adult son-- through multilevel binary logistic models analyzing both survey and census data. </p><p> I find that (1) adult children's attitudes towards filial piety and family values are associated with both presence and amount of financial transfers to older parents, net of controls for adult child's socioeconomic status, parental need, parents' earlier life transfers to children, and whether elderly parents' provide instrumental support to adult children. (2) Similar to previous research in middle-income countries, many biomarkers were not associated with socioeconomic status but those that were demonstrated a reversed gradient - higher socioeconomic status was associated with worse health. (3) Greater numbers of daughters, higher levels of individual socioeconomic status, and residing in a more developed community was associated with greater likelihood of coresidence with adult daughters versus adult sons.</p> / Dissertation

Šis magistro darbas – tai savarankiška kolegialaus tyrimo dalis. Juo siekiama nustatyti organizacinio klimato bei tarpgeneracinės įtampos raišką bei sąsajas pasirinktoje lengvosios pramonės įmonėje. Organizacinio klimato ir tarpgeneracinės įtampos raiškos ypatumai buvo tiriami pagal „Organizacinio klimato“ bei „Tarpgeneracinės įtampos“ testą. Tyrime dalyvavo 61 respondentas, 8 komandos. Duomenys apdoroti SPSS programa. Rezultatai atskleidė, kad AB „Linų audiniai“ vyrauja nepalankus organizacinis klimatas bei kai kuriose komandose reiškiasi tarpgeneracinė įtampa. Taip pat nustatytos statistiškai reikšmingos sąsajos tarp organizacinio klimato ir tarpgeneracinės įtampos. / This master thesis is an independent part of a collegial research. Its purpose is to determine the expression and links of organizational climate and intergenerational tension in a chosen light industry company. The peculiarities of organizational climate and intergenerational tension were studied using “Organizational Climate” and “Intergenerational Tension” tests. 61 respondent and 8 teams participated in the research. The data was processed using SPSS program. The results show that unfavourable organizational climate dominates in AB “Linų audiniai“, and intergenerational tension is present in some teams. Additionally, statistically significant links between organizational climate and intergenerational tension were determined.

Research on developmental, family, and cross-cultural psychology has consistently found evidence that discrepancies exist between parents and their youth around individual preferences, social conventions, and personal values. In immigrant families, these issues may be compounded by cultural change. Indeed, some research has found that immigrant parent-youth dyads diverge in their heritage and settlement culture orientations and have different personal values priorities. These discrepancies, in turn, are related to poorer youth and family adjustment. In recent years, some studies have proposed that facets of the parent-youth relationship may buffer the experience of maladjustment as a function of cultural discrepancies. Therefore, this dissertation had two general aims: (1) to examine the extent to which immigrant Arab Canadian youth perceive cultural discrepancies between themselves and their parents, as well as how they relate to individual and familial adjustment; and (2) to identify specific facets of the parent-youth relationship that moderate the association between perceived cultural discrepancies and outcomes. Although research on different cultural groups as well as immigrant and ethnic minority families has increased in recent years, there is a paucity of empirical work examining Arab immigrants in Canada. This dissertation used a mixed-methods approach to comprehensively investigate youth’s perceptions of parent-youth cultural discrepancies and parent-youth relationships, and how they related to intergenerational conflict and ethnocultural identity conflict. Study 1 consisted of a series of semi-structured interviews. Using a narrative approach, 12 immigrant youth were asked to describe their individual and family experiences as Arabs living in Canada. Findings confirmed that youth perceived cultural discrepancies between themselves and their parents, which were associated with increased intergenerational conflict and ethnocultural identity conflict. However, specific aspects of the parent-youth relationship were identified as either a protective (i.e., when they were open, communicative, and supportive) or risk (i.e., when they were marked by emotional distance) factor. Study 2 was a quantitative approach to examine the prevalence of perceived cultural discrepancies, and their association with intergenerational conflict and ethnocultural identity conflict. Specifically, a series of hierarchical regressions were used to test the hypotheses that parent-youth relationships moderated the associations between perceived cultural discrepancies and conflict. Results confirmed that immigrant Arab youth in Canada perceived heritage and settlement culture orientation and values discrepancies between themselves and their parents, that perceived cultural discrepancies were associated with more conflict, and that parent-youth relationships moderated the relationship between perceived cultural discrepancies and conflict. These studies were among the first to examine these issues in immigrant Arab families in Canada. It is imperative to increase our knowledge of Arab families in Canada given their rapid population growth, cultural dissimilarity, the pervasiveness of group misunderstanding and misrepresentation that has been exacerbated post-9/11, and the likelihood that immigration from the Middle East and North Africa will surge following the Arab Spring.

The object of the dissertation is the interpersonal relationships between adult children and parents and their determinants. The main objective of the dissertation is to examine the differences of intergenerational relationships in various family types, using the theories of social constructionism and intergenerational relationships; to explore what meanings are employed to construct intergenerational relationships and identify the types of relationships; to identify the macro, mezzo and micro level determinants of intergenerational relationships. The first part of dissertation is dedicated to the analysis of sociological theories about interpersonal and intergenerational relationships (solidarity, conflict, ambivalence); a conceptual scheme of macro, mezzo and micro level determinants is provided. The second part of dissertation is dedicated to the discussion of methodological guidelines of empirical research. In the third part, using empirical research, intergenerational relationships and their determinants are analysed. The results of research reveal asymmetrical evaluations of intergenerational relationships which are related to kinship positions; types of family and gender of parents; unequal distribution of functional support. The determinants considered universal in the research of intergenerational relationships in Western societies have contradictory effects in the Lithuanian context. The construction of intergenerational relationships is based on the meanings of... [to full text] / Šio darbo objektas yra tarpasmeniniai santykiai tarp suaugusių vaikų ir tėvų bei juos lemiantys veiksniai. Pagrindinis disertacijos tikslas – besiremiant socialinio konstrukcionizmo ir tarpgeneracinių santykių teorijomis, ištirti tarpgeneracinių santykių skirtumus pagal šeimų tipus; išsiaiškinti, kokiomis prasmėmis konstruojami tarpgeneraciniai santykiai ir identifikuoti santykių tipus; nustatyti makro, mezo bei mikro lygmens tarpgeneracinius santykius lemiančius veiksnius. Pirma disertacijos dalis skirta teoriniam darbo pagrindui atskleisti: nagrinėjamos sociologinės tarpasmeninių santykių teorijos ir tarpgeneracinių santykių teorijos (solidarumo, konflikto, ambivalencijos); pateikiama konceptuali mikro, mezo ir makro lygmens veiksnių schema. Antra disertacijos dalis atskleidžia tyrimo metodologines gaires: pristatomi kiekybiniai ir kokybiniai metodai. Trečioje dalyje, remiantis gautais empiriniais duomenimis, analizuojami tarpgeneraciniai santykiai ir juos lemiantys veiksniai. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo tarpgeneracinių santykių asimetriškumą, kuris susijęs su giminystės pozicija; šeimos tipu bei tėvų lytimi; funkcinės paramos paskirstymu. Vakarų visuomenėse universaliais laikomi veiksniai Lietuvos kontekste turi prieštaringą poveikį, kuris atsiskleidžia prognozuojant solidarumo dimensijų veiksnius pagal šeimų tipus. Tarpgeneraciniai santykiai konstruojami naudojant skirtingus simbolinius mechanizmus, kurie susiję su lyčių vaidmenimis, prasmių apie išorinę tikrovę neatitikimu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

This thesis discusses intergenerational communication and well-being in Aboriginal life, using a literature review and research conducted in relation to the Blood people and culture. It addresses issues concerning lack of communication of traditional ways of knowing, teaching, and being. Interviews were used to better understand the dynamics of intergenerational communication and well-being. It is historically know by First Nations communities that the older people of the clan or tribe taught the children from infancy to adolescence. This, unfortunately, is not the case in many First Nations communities today, due to colonization, assimilation, and segregation. It is hoped this research will assist those who wish to develop, implement and enhance future social, educational, and health programs for the well-being of the First Nations child, family and community. The results also suggest ways in which to enhance and foster the value of elders in the community. / 218 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Most men and women are employed in occupations largely dominated by people of their own sex. Since occupational aspirations have proven to predict future labor market behavior it is of importance to study young boys’ and girls’ occupational preferences. With the use of a survey based on Swedish 15-year-old children this study examines the association between the gender composition of parent’s occupation and the gender composition of children’s most preferred occupation. Drawing from the sex-role model that emphasizes the importance of the same-sex parents in forming children’s preferences, this study has investigated whether the gender composition of mothers’ (fathers’) occupations has an impact on the gender composition of girls’ (boys’) occupational aspirations. In line with previous research, the sex-role model received support for girls. But the observed association between fathers and sons disappear upon adding control variables. It was also hypothesized that the mothers’ generation entry into high status occupation would make children more likely to also regard their opposite sex parents as a role model. However, this hypothesis did not receive support. The result for girls can be interpreted as a sign that sex-role modeling some extent can be one reason behind the persistent sex segregation in the labor market.

My dissertation consists of three essays in which I document trends in earnings and income volatility, estimate potential causal mechanisms for changing volatility, and examine the long-term consequences of parental income volatility for children. In essay 2 I document trends in earnings and income volatility of individuals and families using matched data in the March Current Population survey from 1973 to 2009. Essay 3 advances the literature on volatility, using matched data from the CPS to identify demographic and labor market correlates of earnings volatility within education-birth year cohorts. This study collapses the cross-sectional CPS into a pseudo-panel and then estimates the association between earnings volatility and race, local economic activity, and industry, accounting for endogeneity and sample selection bias. In essay 4 I use data linked across generations in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to estimate the relationship between exposure to volatile income during childhood and a set of socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. The empirical framework is an augmented intergenerational income mobility model that includes controls for income volatility. I find that family income volatility rose by 38 percent over the past four decades, likely driven both by rising volatility of earnings and non means-tested non-labor income. Rising family income volatility occurs across race, education, and family structure. From essay 3, I find that individuals with lower mean earnings have higher earnings volatility. Earnings volatility is also weakly related to race, decreases when young and then rises while workers are still within prime working years. Industry and local economic conditions are significantly related to the occurrence of earnings volatility after accounting for education, though these links differ between men and women. Finally, when examining the intergenerational consequences of volatility, a weak negative association occurs between family income instability during childhood and adult educational outcomes in essay 4.

The current study examined the links and mechanisms associated with intergenerational cultural conflict, psychological distress, and the intergenerational differences in acculturation and model minority stereotype (MMS) endorsement for South Korean immigrants. Specifically, Korean American adolescents’ (ages 12-19, M = 15.3, SD = 1.71) and their mothers’ (N = 209 dyads) acculturation difference and MMS endorsement difference were measured and analyzed as predictors of intergenerational cultural conflict and psychological distress for adolescents. Furthermore, the study analyzed intergenerational cultural conflict as a mediator in the acculturation gap-distress and the MMS endorsement-distress paths. Results indicated that when mothers and their adolescents differed in their acculturation, they also differed in their endorsement of the MMS. Next, as expected, the adolescents who had mothers who were not as acculturated to the American culture, experienced more cultural conflict with their parents and, in turn, felt more psychological distress. Furthermore, the adolescents who had mothers who endorsed the MMS to a greater degree, experienced more cultural conflict with their parents and, in turn, felt more psychological distress.

Aggression between couples is a pervasive social problem throughout various life stages, including the transition to parenthood. Partner aggression during this life stage is particularly problematic given the possible negative effects it has on children’s development, including the possibility of the intergenerational transmission of aggression. However, not all children who are exposed to parental aggression become perpetrators of aggression. The present study used an initial community sample of 98 pregnant couples that were followed for two years. It was found that over 90% of children were exposed to parental psychological aggression, and approximately a third of children were exposed to parental physical aggression. Exposure to psychological aggression was related to externalizing symptoms for girls, and exposure to physical aggression was related to select internalizing symptoms for boys and girls. Parenting behaviours moderated the link between exposure to parental psychological aggression and childhood aggressive behaviour. Surprisingly, although consistent with a strict interpretation of the social learning theory, high quality parenting behaviours were related to more childhood aggression within the context of an aggressive household. The findings of this study can be applied to prevention and treatment programs focused on curtailing childhood exposure to partner aggression and the intergenerational transmission of aggression. / Graduate / 0622 / 0620 / 0384

Intergenerational research aims to promote greater understanding and respect between generations and contribute to building more cohesive communities. Intergenerational relationships form part of our social make–up as they affect social interactions, the use of local spaces, opportunities to take part in public life on an equal basis with others, the degree to which people participate in community life as well as efforts to improve such life. Research indicates that what matters most for young adults and older people is the quality of the interactions taking place between them. Very little is known about the nature of the intergenerational relationships between young adults and older people in an African context. The aim of the study was therefore to explore the intergenerational relationships between young adults and older people in a rural African community. A qualitative research method was used in the study. Two groups of participants were selected though availability sampling method. The group consisted of 11 male participants between 20 to 35 years of age, 6 participants were over the age of 60 (one male and five female). The younger participants were asked to make visual representations of how they perceive the older generation by means of using the Mmogo–method. After the younger participants described their visual representations, the older participants were asked to reflect on the descriptions given by the younger participants. The older people assumed an active listening position while the young adults shared their representations. Informal group discussion was used to facilitate a process of sharing and comparing of perceptions among the participants. The data obtained from the group discussions and applying the Mmogomethod were analysed on the basis of thematic and visual analysis. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured through crystallisation. The results indicate that the relationships between young adults and older people consist of the ambivalent perceptions of the young adults and mostly extreme negative perceptions of older people. As a result, the relationships between the young and old generations seem to be dissatisfying for both generations. Both young and old discover essential tensions in the relationships they create and sustain across generations. Intergenerational tensions may not be so easily identified or concretely observable in everyday behaviour, attitudes, and emotions. But, consistent with the dialectical framework, it is part of all intergenerational relationships at some level. Identifying these underlying tensions is important so that we do not glorify or idealise the interactions of young and old whenever and wherever they occur. Solidarity is not the only outcome of intergenerational relationships; ambivalence as well as conflict is a part of the theory that has often been neglected. In view ofthe importance of intergenerational relationships between the young adults and the older people, intergenerational interventions should be planned to promote the effective negotiation of intergenerational relationships between older persons and the younger generation. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.