Intergenerational Relationships and Adult Children’s Health Behavior

• In Event: 463 - Regular Session. Intergenerational Relationship in the United States

Abstract

Social ties are clear contributors to adult health behavior. Yet, the health behavior consequences of relationships with parents— a central lifelong social tie —is unknown. In this paper, we examine how contact, support, and strain in the parent-child tie matter for adult children’s risky (smoking, drinking) and health-enhancing (body weight, exercise) behavior. Because mothers and fathers have distinct relationships with adult children, we explore how the gender of the parent matters in this relationship. Using growth curve analysis and longitudinal survey data from the American’s Changing Lives Survey, we find that contact, support, and strain from mothers and fathers has important, and somewhat contradictory, influences on adult children’s health behavior. Our findings reveal that the effects of the parent-child tie on risky health behavior is in the expected direction—the more contact, the more support, and the less strain, the lower risk of risky habits both at baseline and over time. In contrast, we find that the effects of the parent-child tie on adult children’s health-enhancing habits are not as clear and consistent; strain from parents appears to have no effect on health-enhancing habits, yet higher contact and greater social support received from parents appear to be associated with higher body mass and less physical activity. The theoretical and empirical implications of these findings are discussed.

Authors

• Corinne Reczek, The Ohio State University

• Hui Liu, Michigan State University

• Mieke Beth Thomeer, University of Texas-Austin

• Alexandra Kissling, The Ohio State University