Duty or ability: Middle-aged mothers’ perceptions of support from children in a rural sub-Saharan setting

• In Event: 30811 - Family and Well-Being

Abstract

Social support needs and expectations between parents and children typically shift direction over the lifecourse. This shift is considered particularly important in many rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are limited support systems and children are often considered the main form of support to their aging parents. This study examines women’s perceptions and expectations of financial and instrumental support exchanges with their older adolescent and young adult children in rural Mozambique. We draw from 71 in-depth interviews with middle-aged women and find that they generally expect instrumental and financial support from their children, but that how these two forms of support are construed is highly dependent on socioeconomic context. Findings add to our understanding of support exchanges between middle-aged women and their grown children in settings with extremely limited support systems and opportunities.

Authors

• Natalia Toledo Melendez, University of California-Los Angeles

• Victor Agadjanian, University of California - Los Angeles

• Sarah R. Hayford, The Ohio State University

• Ines Raimundo, Eduardo Mondlane University

• Cecilia Menjivar, University of California-Los Angeles