Asymmetry in Intergenerational Support: East Asian Societies Studied from a Multilevel Perspective

• In Event: 392 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Aging in Asia and Asian America

Abstract

Studies on intergenerational support have investigated the amount of resources flowing between parents and children, often focusing on support in a particular direction; asymmetry in such supportive relations is however an unexplored area. We propose a number of novel measures of asymmetry in intergenerational support. Using data from the 2006 Family Module of East Asian Social Survey, predictors of these asymmetry measures were investigated from the perspective of three prominent theories in the intergenerational support literature, namely exchange theory, hierarchical compensation theory, social dilution theory and modernization theory. Multi-level analyses were conducted, taking into account cross-national and regional variation. Results showed cross-national differences in asymmetry in line with modernization theory. In more modernized countries, supportive relations were more in favor of children, whereas in more traditional countries, supportive relations were more in favor of the parents. In addition, individual characteristics, as well as family and parental characteristics predicted additional variance in asymmetry; finally, family piety norms did not directly predict asymmetry, but further analyses suggested a moderation effect of these norms and the amount of social control.

Authors

• Shuanglong Li, Kyushu University

• David Macro, Utrecht University