Chapter 9- Family Ties, Relationships, and Transitions Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the concept of family. (4)

A
  • Common trajectory: Adult child gets married and moves out, raises children, experiences empty nest, grandparent, widow
  • Today are more fluid and diverse
  • Most older prefer living independently, yet being close enough to visit family
  • Even when forced out of family home, they still prefer independent living and view co-residence as burden to family
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2
Q

How has family and kinship structures changed? (6)

A
  • Kinship system became longer to at least 3 or 4 generations
  • Shifted from age condensed to age-gapped
  • Truncated families: family lineage disappears when youngest generation is childless
  • Increased number of blended families (remarriages)
  • Cohabitation for older adults
  • Same sex partners in mid and later adulthood
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3
Q

Describe marital status and marital relationships. (3)

A
  • Influences much of adult social life, related to living arrangements, health, support, and well-being
  • More men are married and report marital satisfaction
  • Marital satisfaction increases with age
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4
Q

Describe sibling relationships. (3)

A
  • Important for companionship and support
  • Influenced by gender, marital status, age differences, physical distances, and life trajectories
  • Sisters have stronger ties
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5
Q

Describe the relationship between parents and their adult children. (6)

A
  • Adult children provide greatest source of support
  • Most older people have at least one living child
  • In last few decades, there have been changes in this relationship because of family changing events
  • Intergenerational tensions are temporary and don’t lead to lifelong conflict
  • Crises can increase interaction
  • Early life, flow is from parent to child; reverses in later life
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6
Q

Describe the grandparent-grandchild relationship. (5)

A
  • Grandparents provide kinship continuity and contribute to preserving family rituals and history
  • At birth, children have four living grandparents, by age 30 they have at least one
  • Older people will have less grandchildren in future
  • Grandparenting mostly done by grandma
  • If moved to a care facility, relationship often changes
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7
Q

Explain older people who are common-law, never married, or childless

A
  • Common-law: more man seek, amount decreases in later life
  • Never married: they are not lonely or socially isolated because of developed friendships or extended family
  • Childless: % will increase
  • Advantages: less worries, more wealth, more freedom
  • Disadvantages: missed experiences, lack of companionship and care
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