Chapter 9- Family Ties, Relationships, and Transitions

Question 1

Explain the concept of family. (4)

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

How has family and kinship structures changed? (6)

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

Describe marital status and marital relationships. (3)

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

Describe sibling relationships. (3)

Answer 4

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Describe the grandparent-grandchild relationship. (5)

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

• 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