Across Generations
Grandparenting and Food Insecurity in the US
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Madonna Harrington Meyer, Anna Delapaz
A surprising number of US grandparents who care for their grandchildren are food insecure. Generally, the more care they provide for their grandchildren, the more likely they are to be food insecure. One in four grandparent-headed families report food insecurity. Qualitative data based on 63 in-depth interviews with people age 60 and older who are at or below 130% of the federal poverty line suggest that some grandparents struggle with insufficient income, difficulties managing food assistance programs, unreliable and unaffordable transportation, limited availability of fresh, nutritious food, and poor health, mobility, and stamina.
Perceptions of Filial Piety by Older Adults in Rural China: Variation by Place and Space
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Merril Silverstein
Filial piety—the belief that children should provide care, support, respect, and obedience to their older parents—is a fundamental normative expectation in East Asian societies. This study investigates the relationship between geographic proximity of children and support received from them and parents' perceptions filial piety in rural China. We used the 2021 wave of the Longitudinal Study of Older Adults in t Anhui Province to predict parental assessments of filial piety for each of their children. Random effects ordinal logistic regression models using an internal moderator approach was employed to compare coresident children with non-coresident children based on their proximity and support provided. Findings indicate that parents tend to perceive their coresident children as being more filial compared to non-coresident children, particularly when parents are in worse functional health. However, non-coresident children can compensate for their absence in being perceived as filial by providing instrumental and financial support, as well as by maintaining frequent visits and communication with parents who live farther away. Analyses also examines variation in filial piety by the level of economic development and modernization of the village in which parents reside. The study's results suggest filial piety norms in rural China have adapted to the diminished emphasis on intergenerational coresidence resulting from urbanization and significant rural-urban migration trends in modern China and requiring. that children find alternative ways to fulfill their filial obligations.
Grandparents and Grandchildren - the Transmission of Faith and Values
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Dudley Chancey
This study is based on a mixed methods research project interviewing and survey grandparents in North America. The study explores health and wellness, family of origin history, religious trends, values, and legacies. Most of this sample was well off financially and health-wise. Some of the participants were very active in sharing their faith and values to their grandchildren actively, while most talked about a passive type response to interacting with their grandchildren. However in the end, the majority of the participants wanted to leave a meaningful legacy with their children and grandchildren. For future comparisons, this same survey is being adapted and given to grandparents in Honduras and around the Hispanic communities North America.
Exploring the Effects of an Intergenerational Exercise Program on Psychosocial Health in Paired Younger and Older Adults
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session William Crawley, Amy Crawley
Intergenerational exercise programs have been found to promote physical and psychosocial health in older adults. More specifically, research has found intergenerational dynamics to positively influence motivation for older adults to exercise more regularly, and an increase in younger adults’ confidence and skills when developing and leading exercise programs.To further enhance intergenerational exchange dynamics, it is essential to understand how age cohorts perceive and experience one another. This study explores and compares insights from young and older adults having completed an intergenerational, community-based exercise program. Qualitative data was collected from exercise program participants via semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with older adults (n=26) and reflective writings produced by young adults (n=26) and were thereafter coded and analyzed to identify significant concepts and emerging trends. Thematic qualitative analysis derived from older adults found initial barriers to exercise included lack of motivation, existing conditions/poor health, and time constraints. For this same group, leading motivational reasons to participate included social engagement with young adults and each other, maintaining/increasing strength, and the importance of staying active. Data from younger adults reported an increased understanding of older adults’ capacity and willingness to exercise while providing meaningful opportunities for personal growth and enhanced self-efficacy of younger participants. Interestingly, comparing data across younger and older adults surfaced some common trends, including a serendipitous appreciation and respect for the capacity of the ‘other’ age cohort. These findings can be used to support best practices when developing exercise interventions using intergenerational pairing dynamics.
