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
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
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
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
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
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
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