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Generational Solidarity in Europe and Israel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2015

Ruth Katz ,
Ariela Lowenstein ,
Dafna Halperin  and
Aviad Tur-Sinai
Ruth Katz
Affiliation:
Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
Ariela Lowenstein
Affiliation:
Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
Dafna Halperin*
Affiliation:
Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
Aviad Tur-Sinai
Affiliation:
Max Stern Yezreel Valley College Israel Gerontological Data Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Dafna Halperin, Ph.D. Max Stern Yezreel Valley College Yezreel Valley 19300, Israel (dafnah@yvc.ac.il)
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Abstract

This study explored various dimensions of generational relationships between older parents and their adult children using the second wave of SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), comparing it to Dykstra’s and Fokkema’s (2011) analyses of the first wave. Results were further compared to the OASIS study (Old Age and Autonomy: The Role of Service Systems and Intergenerational Solidarity). The intergenerational solidarity model served as the main conceptual framework. Analyses yielded four family relationship types present in all countries, albeit with different frequencies. Around half of the respondents in the 11 countries were identified with close ties and flow of support. Four conclusions were drawn: (1) importance of personal resources; (2) cultural differences and meanings for families; (3) highlighting within-country difference; and (4) strength of intergenerational solidarity. The importance of understanding generational relationships in the current era with higher longevity and changing family structures is emphasized and explicated.

Résumé

Cette étude a exploré différentes dimensions des relations générationnelles entre les parents âgés et leurs enfants adultes, utilisant la deuxième vague de SHARE (Enquête sur la santé, le vieillissement et la retraite en Europe), et a comparée cela aux analyses de Dykstra et Fokkema (2011) de la première vague. Puis on a effectué un autre comparaison avec l'étude OASIS (Vieillesse et l'autonomie: le rôle des systèmes de service et de la Solidarité). Le modèle de la solidarité intergénérationnelle a servi de cadre conceptuel principale. Les analyses ont donné quatre types de relation familiale présentes dans tous les pays, mais avec des fréquences différentes. Environ la moitié des personnes interrogées dans 11 pays ont été identifiés avec des liens intimes et un flux de soutien. Les quatre résultats suivants: (1) l'importance des ressources personnelles; (2) les différences culturelles et les significations pour les familles; (3) soulignant les différences nationales; et (4) la force de la solidarité intergénérationnelle. L'importance de comprendre les relations générationnelles est soulignée et expliquée dans le contexte actuel de la longévité et de la modification des structures familiales.

Keywords

agingfamily relations typologygenerational solidarityOASISSHAREvieillissmenttypologie de relations familialessolidarité de générationsOASISSHARE
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 34 , Special Issue 3 , September 2015 , pp. 342 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 

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