A report said that social change, including the struggle that families faced in balancing work and family responsibilities, could lead to reduced levels of supervision for teenagers and lack of support for elderly grandparents. This translated into costly and challenging decisions about care provision for both the family and the state. There was a need for the creation of strong intergenerational relationships to be a key priority for those making decisions about the development of public spaces and in the handling of community assets.
Source: Think Intergenerational: Connecting generations to support communities, 4Children
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined increased heterogeneity in the living arrangements of young adults. Increasing numbers of young adults remained in the parental home, or lived independently of the parental home but outside of a family. The article examined the extent to which these trends were explained by the increased immigration of foreign-born young adults, the expansion in higher education, and the increased economic insecurity faced by young adults.
Source: Juliet Stone, Ann Berrington, and Jane Falkingham, 'The changing determinants of UK young adults? living arrangements', Demographic Research, Volume 25, Article 20
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined intergenerational family structures in 9 European countries. The results indicated that certain demographic scenarios might halt or temporarily reverse the trend towards the further vertical extension of family 'constellations'.
Source: Allan Puur, Luule Sakkeus, Asta Poldma, and Anne Herm, 'Intergenerational family constellations in contemporary Europe: evidence from the Generations and Gender Survey', Demographic Research, Volume 25
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined children s perspectives on contemporary (sur)naming practices.
Source: Hayley Davies, 'Sharing surnames: children, family and kinship', Sociology, Volume 45 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
A study found that being a grandparent to at least one grandchild was positively associated with individuals reporting to be very satisfied with life overall. Parents with no grandchildren were no more satisfied with life than non-parents of the same age.
Source: Nattavudh Powdthavee, Life Satisfaction and Grandparenthood: Evidence from a nationwide survey, Discussion Paper 5869, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined public attitudes to inheritance law, particularly the rules on intestacy. People still viewed their most important relationships, at least for the purposes of inheritance law, as centred on a narrow, nuclear family model.
Source: Gillian Douglas, Hilary Woodward, Alun Humphrey, Lisa Mills, and Gareth Morrell, 'Enduring love? Attitudes to family and inheritance law in England and Wales', Journal of Law and Society, Volume 38 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined financial support and practical help between older parents and their middle-aged children in the different regions of Europe. Northern and western Europe were characterized by a high likelihood of practical help to and financial transfers from parents, while in southern and eastern Europe these kinds of support were much less likely.
Source: Christian Deindl and Martina Brandt, 'Financial support and practical help between older parents and their middle-aged children in Europe', Ageing and Society, Volume 31 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the variability in intergenerational family solidarity within and between west European countries.
Source: Pearl Dykstra and Tineke Fokkema, 'Relationships between parents and their adult children: a west European typology of late-life families', Ageing and Society, Volume 31 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A report examined the views of children in relation to their grandparents, and the grandparenting experience of grandparents. Children valued the role that grandparents played in offering non-critical support, particularly emotional advice and guidance. Grandparents also provided time to focus on a range of play and other enjoyable activities. Grandparents found that grandchildren gave them an additional reason for existence, and contributed to their health and longevity.
Source: Do Grandparents Matter? The impact of grandparenting on the well being of children, Family Matters Institute
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Apr
A European study found evidence supporting the theory that women and maternal kin can be expected (for reasons of evolutionary psychology) to make a stronger investment in children and grandchildren than men and paternal kin.
Source: Mirkka Danielsbacka, Antti Tanskanen, Markus Jokela, and Anna Rotkirch, 'Grandparental child care in Europe: evidence for preferential investment in more certain kin', Evolutionary Psychology, Volume 9 Issue 1
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper examined the feasibility of using qualitative secondary analysis and historical comparison in order to explore people's experiences of family and parenting practice – in an attempt to provide insights into the nature of social change over four decades. It concluded that historical comparative analysis of accounts from different archived studies, and comparison of classic and contemporary studies, was possible; and that it could generate useful insights into change and continuity in family and parenting.
Source: Val Gillies and Rosalind Edwards, An Historical Comparative Analysis of Family and Parenting: A feasibility study across sources and timeframes, Working Paper 29, Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group (South Bank University)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2011-Feb