It Takes a Village: An Examination of Intergenerational Social Support and Delinquent Behavior

• In Event: Navigating Adolescence: Exploring the Influence of Social Ties on Behavior

Abstract

Much research confirms the importance of parent-child relationship for deterring delinquent behavior in adolescences, yet less examines the influence that support across generations has on behavior. This study fills that gap in the literature by examining the association between generational social support and child’s behavior. Using the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS), we investigate grandparent (Generation1 [G1) to parent (Generation 2 [G2]) relationship closeness and identity support during adolescence, then grandparent (G1) to parent (G2) relationship support, during adulthood, and their association to grandchild (Generation 3 [G3]) behavior. Quantative data was collected from TARS waves 1 (2000) to assess grandparent (G1) to parent (G2) support during adolescence, then twenty years later, wave 8 (2020), G1 to G2 support and child’s (G3) reported behavior was measured to assess the cumulative influence of generational support. Next, qualitative data was collected from TARS wave 8, to assess whether parents (G2) with high support from G1 are more likely to testify that their time with family is a positive, and whether these reports are associated with child’s (G3) behavior at wave 8. This research extends our understanding of generational support as well as provides an assessment and evaluation of cumulative intergenerational (dis)advantage.

Authors

• Theresa Lee, Bowling Green State University

• Jacob Goberman, Bowling Green State University

• Carly Marie Beck, Bowling Green State University

• Elizabeth Zieber, Bowling Green State University

• Moinca Longmore, Bowling Green State University