Step-gap in attitudes toward filial responsibilities among younger and middle-aged Germans?
: Hämäläinen, Hans; Tanskanen, Antti O.; Kääriäinen Juha; Danielsbacka Mirkka
Publisher: Center for Open Science
: 2023
: INVEST Working Papers
: 77
: 2737-0534
: 2737-0534
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/nzmqh(external)
: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/nzmqh(external)
This study investigates the association between the family structure and the perceived filial obligations. Despite remarkable changes in family structures in recent decades (e.g., the increasing share of step relations), only a few studies have explored the association between complex family structures and perceived filial obligations. Using data from the German Family Panel (pairfam) (N = 8,709), we investigated the attitudes of younger and middle-aged adults toward the responsibilities of supporting older parents. We examined whether individuals’ family composition was associated with their views on filial obligations. We found that, compared to individuals whose biological parents were still together, respondents with stepparents were less likely to consider it is the duty of adult children to take care of parents in circumstances where parents need help. Contrastingly, respondents without living parents were more likely to agree with filial obligations. These results highlight how the complexity of the family structures in contemporary society shapes intergenerational bonds and perceived filial obligations.
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The study is part of NetResilience consortium funded by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland (grant number 345183) and INVEST flagship funded by the Academy of Finland (grant number 320162).