The effect of widowhood on intergenerational ambivalence

被引:30
作者
Ha, Jung-Hwa [1 ]
Ingersoll-Dayton, Berit [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Wisconsin, Waisman Ctr, Madison, WI 53705 USA
[2] Univ Michigan, Sch Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
来源
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2008年 / 63卷 / 01期
关键词
spousal loss; parent-child relationships; bereavement; intergenerational dependence;
D O I
10.1093/geronb/63.1.S49
中图分类号
R592 [老年病学]; C [社会科学总论];
学科分类号
03 ; 0303 ; 100203 ;
摘要
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the extent to which widowhood affects older adults' ambivalence about their adult children, (b) the role of intergenerational dependence in explaining the effect of widowhood on parent-child ambivalence, and (c) temporal changes in the effects of widowhood on ambivalence. Methods. We based analyses on Changing Lives of Older Couples, a prospective study of 1,532 married individuals aged 65 and older. We used ordinary least squares regression models to estimate the direct effect of widowhood and the mediating effects of dependence on intergenerational ambivalence 6 and 18 months after spousal loss. Results. Widowhood was associated with a decrease in ambivalent feelings toward adult children 6 months after spousal toss, which was partially explained by a reduction in the extent to which children were dependent upon their bereaved parents. However, at 19 months, widowhood did not exert any significant influence on intergenerational ambivalence. Discussion. Our findings suggest that major life events such as widowhood influence intergenerational ambivalence. The results shed light on the mechanisms by which parent-child dependence contributes to intergenerational ambivalence.
引用
收藏
页码:S49 / S58
页数:10
相关论文
共 35 条
[21]   The costs and rewards of caregiving among aging spouses and adult children [J].
Raschick, M ;
Ingersoll-Dayton, B .
FAMILY RELATIONS, 2004, 53 (03) :317-325
[22]  
Roberts R.E. L., 1991, MARRIAGE FAMILY REV, V16, P11, DOI [DOI 10.1300/J002V16N01_02, 10.1300/J002v16n01_02]
[24]  
ROOK KS, 1990, S AP PSYC S, P173
[25]   Too much of a good thing? Intergenerational social support and the psychological well-being of older parents [J].
Silverstein, M ;
Chen, X ;
Heller, K .
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY, 1996, 58 (04) :970-982
[26]   The dual process model of coping with bereavement: Rationale and description [J].
Stroebe, M ;
Schut, H .
DEATH STUDIES, 1999, 23 (03) :197-224
[27]   THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OLDER WIDOWS AND THEIR ADULT CHILDREN - THE MOTHERS PERSPECTIVE [J].
TALBOTT, MM .
GERONTOLOGIST, 1990, 30 (05) :595-603
[28]   THE CONFLICTED INDIVIDUAL - PERSONALITY-BASED AND DOMAIN-SPECIFIC ANTECEDENTS OF AMBIVALENT SOCIAL-ATTITUDES [J].
THOMPSON, MM ;
ZANNA, MP .
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, 1995, 63 (02) :259-288
[29]   RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADULT CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH GENERATIONS [J].
UMBERSON, D .
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY, 1992, 54 (03) :664-674
[30]   EFFECTS OF A PARENTS DEATH ON ADULT CHILDREN - RELATIONSHIP SALIENCE AND REACTION TO LOSS [J].
UMBERSON, D ;
CHEN, MD .
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, 1994, 59 (01) :152-168