Social norms and intergenerational relationships

Abstract

Intergenerational relationships in ageing societies differ between countries: the shapes they take are difficult to explain, and it is tempting to refer to the vague concept of ‘culture’. This chapter contends that norms can be associated with the frequency of contacts between adult children and their elderly parents. The empirical analysis applies multilevel ordered logistic regression models to cross-country data derived from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The three-level structure considers the adult child, his or her parent (aged 50 or more), and the country (ten European countries). The normatively accepted division of responsibility for elderly care between family and state (a variable based on Eurobarometer data) is considered at the macro-level. The results suggest a strong association between social norms and frequency of intergenerational contacts.