Conceptualizing and measuring intergenerational ambivalence in later life

Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

Volumn 66 B, Issue 6, 2011, Pages 769-781

  Suitor, J Jill ^a   Gilligan, Megan ^a   Pillemer, Karl ^b  

^a PURDUE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b Cornell University ^*  (United States)

Author keywords

Intergenerational ambivalence; Parent child relations; Parent child relations and psychological well being

Indexed keywords

ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR; ADULT; ADULT CHILD; AGED; ARTICLE; DEPRESSION; FEMALE; HUMAN; HUMAN RELATION; MIDDLE AGED; MOTHER CHILD RELATION; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; QUALITY OF LIFE; REGRESSION ANALYSIS; SOCIOECONOMICS;

ADAPTATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL; ADULT; ADULT CHILDREN; AGED; AGED, 80 AND OVER; DEPRESSION; FEMALE; HUMANS; INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS; MIDDLE AGED; MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONS; QUALITY OF LIFE; REGRESSION ANALYSIS; SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS;

EID: 80054934978     PISSN: 10795014     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbr108     Document Type: Article

References (69)

1. Allison, P. (2010). Missing data. In J. Wright & P. Marsden (Eds.), Handbook of survey research (pp. 631-658). Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
2. Barber, B. K., & Buehler, C. (1996). Family cohesion and enmeshment: Different constructs, different effects. Journal of Marriage and Family, 58, 433-441. doi:10.2307/353507 (Pubitemid 126410549)
3. Beekman, A. T. F., Kriegsman, D. M. W., Deeg, D. J. H., & Van Tilburg, T. (1995). The association of physical health and depressive symptoms in the older population: Age and sex differences. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 30, 32-38. doi:10.1007/BF00784432
4. Bengtson, V. L., & Kuypers, J. A. (1971). Generational difference and the developmental stake. The Intergenerational Journal of Aging and Human Development, 2, 249-260.
5. Birditt, K. S., Fingerman, K. L., & Zarit, S. H. (2010). Adult children's problems and successes: Implications for intergenerational ambivalence. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65, 145-153. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp125
6. Birditt, K. S., Miller, L. M., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2009). Tensions in the parent and adult child relationship: Links to solidarity and ambivalence. Psychological Aging, 24, 287-295. doi:10.1037/a0015196
7. Byrne, B. M., & Campbell, T. L. (1999). Cross-cultural comparisons and the presumption of equivalent measurement and theoretical structure: A look beneath the surface. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 30, 555-574. doi:10.1177/00220022199030005001
8. Chodorow, N. J. (1978). The reproduction of mothering. Berkeley: University of California Press.
9. Connidis, I., & McMullin, J. (2002a). Ambivalence, family ties and doing sociology. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 594-601. doi:10.111/j.1741-3737.2002.00594.X
10. Connidis, I., & McMullin, J. (2002b). Sociological ambivalence and family ties: A critical perspective. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 558-567. doi:10.111/j.1741-3737.2002.00558.X
11. Dixon, J., & Tucker, C. (2010). Survey nonresponse. In J. Wright & P. Marsden (Eds.), Handbook of survey research (pp. 593-630). Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
12. Fingerman, K. L. (2001). Aging mothers and their adult daughters: A study in mixed emotions. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
13. Fingerman, K. L., Chen, P., Hay, E., Cichy, K. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2006). Ambivalent reactions in the parent and offspring relationship. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61, 152-160.
14. Fingerman, K. L., & Hay, E. (2004). Intergenerational ambivalence in the context of the larger social context. In K. Pillemer, & K. Luescher (Eds.), Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on parent-child relations in later life (pp. 135-151). New York, NY: Elsevier.
15. Fingerman, K. L., Hay, E. L., & Birditt, K. (2004). The best of ties, the worst of ties: Close, problematic, and ambivalent social relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 792-808. doi:10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00053 (Pubitemid 39146098)
16. Fingerman, K. L., Pitzer, L., Lefkowitz, E. S., Birditt, K. S., & Mroczek, D. (2008). Ambivalent relationship qualities between adults and their parents: Implications for the well-being of both parties. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63, 362-371.
17. Frederickson, B. L. (2003). The value of positive emotions: The emerging science of positive psychology is coming to understand why it's good to feel good. American Scientist, 91, 330-335.
18. Freud, S. (1913). Totem and taboo. London, UK: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd.
19. Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
20. Geerling, S. W., Beekman, A. T. F., Deeg, D. J. H., & Van Tilburg, T. (2000). Physical health and the onset and persistence of depression in older adults: An eight-wave prospective community-based study. Psychological Medicine, 30, 369-380. doi:10.1017/50033291799001890 (Pubitemid 30245800)
21. Giarrusso, R., Feng, D., & Bengtson, V. L. (2004). The intergenerational-stake phenomenon over 20 years. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 24, 55-76.
22. Graham, J. (2009). Missing data analysis: Making it work in the real world. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 549-576. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58. 110405.085530
23. Ha, J. H., & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2008). The effect of widowhood on intergenerational ambivalence. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63, 49-58.
24. Ikkink, K. K., Van Tilburg, T., & Knipscheer, K. C. P. M. (1999). Perceived instrumental support exchanges in relationships between elderly parents and their adult children: Normative and structural explanations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 61, 831-844. doi:10.23071354006
25. Jylha, M., Guralnik, J. M., Ferrucci, L., Jokela, J., & Heikkinen, E. (1998). Is self-rated health comparable across cultures and genders. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 53, 144-152. doi:10.1093/geronb/53B.3.5144
26. Kalmijn, M., & Liefbroer, A. C. (2011). Nonresponse of secondary respondents in multi-actor surveys: Determinants, consequences, and possible remedies. Journal of Family Issues, 32, 735-766. doi:10.1177/0192513X10390184
27. Kelly, H. H. (1983). Love and commitment. In H. H. Kelly, E. Berscheid, A. Christansen, J. H. Harvey, T. L. Huston, G Levinger & E. McClintock (Eds.), Close relationships (pp. 265-314). New York, NY: W.H. Freeman.
28. Kielcolt, J. K., Blieszner, R., & Salva, J. (2011). Long-term influences of intergenerational ambivalence on midlife parents' psychological well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 369-382.
29. Lettke, F., & Klein, D. M. (2004). Methodological issues in assessing ambivalences in intergenerational relations. In K. Pillemer & K. Luescher (Eds.), Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on parent-child relations in later life (pp. 85-113). New York, NY: Elsevier.
30. Lowenstein, A. (2007). Solidarity-conflict and ambivalence: Testing two conceptual frameworks and their impact on quality of life for older family members. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, 100-107.
31. Luescher, K., & Lettke, F. (2004). Intergenerational ambivalence: Methods, measures, and results of the Konstanz study. In K. Pillemer, & K. Luescher (Eds.), Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on parent-child relations in later life (pp. 135-151). New York, NY: Elsevier.
32. Luescher, K., & Pillemer, K. (1998). Intergenerational ambivalence: A new approach to the study of parent-child relations in later life. Journal of Marriage and Family, 60, 413-425. doi:10.1080/15350770.2011.568338
33. Mandemakers, J. J., & Dykstra, P. A. (2008). Discrepancies in parent's and adult child's reports of support and contact. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 495-506. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00496.X
34. Marks, N. (1998). Does it hurt to care? Caregiving, work-family conflict, and midlife well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 60, 951-966. doi:10.23071353637
35. Merton, R. K., & Barber, E. (1963). Sociological ambivalence. In E. Tiryakian (Ed.), Sociological theory: Values and sociocultural change (pp. 91-120). New York, NY: Free Press.
36. Mongrain, M., & Zuroff, D. C. (1994). Ambivalence over emotional expression and negative life events: Mediators of depressive symptoms in dependent and self-critical individuals. Personality and Individual Differences, 16, 447-458. doi: 10.1016/01918869(94)90071X
37. Newby-Clark, I. R., McGregor, I., & Zanna, M. P. (2002). Thinking and caring about cognitive inconsistency: When and for whom does attitudinal ambivalence feel uncomfortable? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 157-166. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.82.2.157166
38. Petty, R. E., Tormala, Z. L., Briñol, P., & Jarvis, W. B. G. (2006). Implicit ambivalence from attitude change: An exploration of the PASTmodel. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 21-41. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.90.1.21 (Pubitemid 43172340)
39. Pillemer, K. (2004). Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em: Older mothers' ambivalence toward their adult children. In K. Pillemer, & K. Luescher (Eds.), Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on parent-child relations in later life (pp. 135-151). New York, NY: Elsevier.
40. Pillemer, K., & Luescher, K. (2004). Introduction: Ambivalence in parent-child relations in later life. In K. Pillemer & K. Luescher (Eds.), Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on parent-child relations in later life (pp. 1-19). New York, NY: Elsevier.
41. Pillemer, K., & Suitor, J. J. (2002). Explaining mothers' ambivalence toward their adult children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 602-613. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00602.X
42. Pillemer, K., & Suitor, J. J. (2005). Ambivalence in intergenerational relations over the life-course. In M. Silverstein, R. Giarrusso, & V. L. Bengtson (Eds.), Intergenerational relations across time and place (pp. 3-28). New York, NY: Springer.
43. Pillemer, K., Suitor, J. J., Mock, S. E., Sabir, M., Pardo, T., & Sechrist, J. (2007). Capturing the complexity of intergenerational relations: Exploring ambivalence within later-life families. Journal of Social Issues, 63, 775-791. doi:10.1111/j1540-4560.2007.00536X
44. Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.
45. Reynolds, S. H., Torres, M., Jackson, J., Boyd, P., & Chen, V. W. (2000). Use of coping strategies and breast cancer survival: Results from the Black/White Cancer Survival Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 152, 940-949. doi:10.1093/aje/152.10.940
46. Ross, C., & Mirowsky, J. (1988). Childcare and emotional adjustment to wives' employment. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 29, 127-138.
47. Rossi, A., & Rossi, P. H. (1990). Of human bonding: Parent-child relations across the life course. New York, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.
48. Sechrist, J., Suitor, J. J., Vargas, N., & Pillemer, K. (2011). The role of perceived religious similarity in the quality of mother-child relations in later life: Differences within families and between races. Research on Aging, 33, 3-27. doi:10.1177/0164027510384711
49. Shapiro, A. (2004). Revisiting the generation gap: Exploring the relationships of parent/adult-child dyads. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 58, 127-146. doi:10.21901EVFK-7F2X-KQNV-DH58 (Pubitemid 38808354)
50. Silverstein, M., & Giarrusso, R. (2010). Aging and family life: A decade review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 1039-1058. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00749.X
51. Simpson, J. A. (1990). The influence of attachment styles on romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 971-980. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.59.5.971
52. Sincoff, J. B. (1990). Psychological characteristics of ambivalent people. Clinical psychological review, 10, 43-68. doi:10.1016/0272-7358(90) 90106-K (Pubitemid 20132444)
53. Stryker, S. (1980). Symbolic interactionism: A social structural version. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company.
54. Suitor, J. J., & Pillemer, K. (2006). Choosing daughters: Exploring why mothers favor adult daughters over sons. Sociological Perspectives, 49, 131-161. doi:10.1525/sop.2006.49.2.139 (Pubitemid 44044074)
55. Suitor, J. J., Sechrist, J., Gilligan, M., & Pillemer, K. (2011). Family relationships in later life. In R. A. Settersten, & J. L. Angel (Eds.), Handbook of sociology of aging (pp. 161-178). New York, NY: Springer.
56. Suitor, J. J., Sechrist, J., Steinhour, M., & Pillemer, K. (2006). I'm Sure She Chose Me! Consistency in intergenerational reports of mothers' favoritism in later-life families. Family Relations, 55, 526-538. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00423.X (Pubitemid 44797761)
57. Sweet, J., & Bumpass, L. (1996). The National Survey of Families and Households-wave 1 and wave 2: Data description and documentation. Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin.
58. Thompson, M. M., Zanna, M. P., & Griffin, D. W. (1995). Let's not be indifferent about (attitudinal) ambivalence. In R. E. Petty, & J. A. Krosnick (Eds.), Attitude strength: Antecedents and consequences (pp. 361-386). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
59. Uchino, B. N., Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. W., & Bloor, L. (2004). Heterogeneity in social networks: A comparison of different models linking relationships to psychological outcomes. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 123-139. doi:10.1521/jscp.23.2.12331014 (Pubitemid 38706333)
60. Uchino, B. N., Holt-Lunstad, J., Uno, D., & Flinders, J. B. (2001). Heterogeneity in the social networks of young and older adults: Prediction of mental health and cardiovascular reactivity during acute stress. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 24, 361-382. doi:10.15211jscp.23.2.123.31014 (Pubitemid 37490041)
61. Van Gaalen, R. I., & Dykstra, P. A. (2006). Solidarity and conflict between adult children and parents: A latent class analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 947-960. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00306-X (Pubitemid 44536290)
62. Van Gaalen, R. I., Dykstra, P. A., & Komter, A. E. (2010). Where is the exit? Intergenerational ambivalence and relationship quality in high contact ties. Journal of Aging Studies, 24, 105-114. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2008.10.006
63. Van Harreveld, F., Van der Pligt, J., & de Liver, Y. N. (2009). The agony of ambivalence and ways to resolve it: Introducing the MAID Model. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 13, 45-61. doi:10.1177// 1088868308324518
64. Ward, R. A. (2008). Multiple parent-adult child relations and well-being in middle and later life. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63, 239-247.
65. Ward, R. A., Deane, G., & Spitze, G. (2008). Ambivalence about ambivalence: Reply to Pillemer and Suitor. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63, 397-398.
66. Wilson, A. E., Shuey, K. M., & Elder, G. H. Jr. (2003). Ambivalence in the relationship of adult children to aging parents and in-laws. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 1055-1072. doi:10.1111/j1741-3737.2003.01055.X (Pubitemid 37469563)
67. Wilson, A. E., Shuey, K. M., Elder, G. H. Jr., & Wickrama, K. A. S. (2006). Ambivalence in mother-adult child relations: A dyadic analysis. Social Psychology Quarterly, 69, 235-252. doi:10.1177/019027250606900302 (Pubitemid 44661918)
68. Wright, J., & Marsden, P. (2010). Survey research and social science: History, current practice, and future prospects. In J. Wright, & P. Marsden (Eds.), Handbook of survey research (pp. 3-26). Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
69. Zautra, A. J., Reich, J. W., Davis, M. C., Potter, P. T., & Nicolson, N. A. (2000). The role of stressful events in the relationship between positive and negative affects: Evidence from field and experimental studies. Journal of Personality, 68, 927-951. doi:10.1111/1467-6494.00121