Intergenerational Ambivalence in Later Life: Gendered Effects of Marital and Work Transitions

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  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Gender, Work & Family

Abstract

This study examines how major later-life transitions—retirement and changes in marital status—influence intergenerational relationships between older adults and their children. To assess the multidimensional nature of intergenerational relationships, we differentiate positive, negative, and ambivalent perceptions. Drawing on data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2022), we test models with individual fixed and random effects to examine potential bias from individual-level omitted confounders.
Findings indicate that any type of union dissolution results in more positive intergenerational relationships and reduced ambivalence with children. Gender-specific models reveal that these effects are more pronounced for men, particularly in cases of widowhood, leading to significantly lower levels of intergenerational ambivalence. For women, both separation/divorce and widowhood strengthen positive relationships with children, but unlike men, these transitions do not reduce ambivalence. Additionally, retirement plays a gendered role, with women experiencing a notable decrease in ambivalence post-retirement, whereas men do not exhibit such an effect. These findings underscore the complex and gender-differentiated impact of later-life transitions on intergenerational relationships, emphasizing the moderating role of gender in shaping emotional bonds between parents and children.

Authors

• Jiahui Lyu, University of Florida

• Won-tak Joo, University of Florida

• Huimin Zhang, University of Florida