Regulation of intergenerational family relations between adult children and their ageing parents in the context of migration

In the next years, many western societies will be confronted with specific challenges regarding ageing migrants, since an unprecedented number of first generation immigrants are approaching retirement age. Until now, only few studies have concentrated on the regulation of intergenerational family relations of older migrants and their adult children, although migrant families at this stage of the life span might be confronted with very special tasks. In general, the acculturation situation may result in an increased need for intergenerational support due to a smaller social network or fewer sociocultural resources in the host country. Depending on the time spent in the host country, an acculturation gap between the first and the second generation might appear leading to different expectations regarding intergenerational solidarity or to ambivalences, which can affect well-being of family members.
The present study will concentrate on two key issues regarding the regulation of adult family relations, first the balancing of autonomy and closeness - a major developmental task in adolescence and emerging adulthood that remains important over the whole life span -, and second the regulation of support exchange and reciprocity that might gain special importance between adult children and their ageing parents. The study reported here is based on a pilot study with n = 31 Luxembourgish and n = 20 Portuguese immigrant mother-daughter-dyads in adolescence and young adulthood. Here we found an acculturation gap between Portuguese mothers and daughters regarding felt obligations toward family members that had a particularly high salience for Portuguese mothers. Further, differences between Luxembourgish and Portuguese families were found in patterns of social support (see Albert, Michels, & Ferring, 2013).
The present study will implement a cross-cultural comparison of altogether N = 120 Portuguese and Luxembourgish triads of older parents and their adult children, both living in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The study addresses three specific research questions: Firstly, we will examine similarities and differences in family values and internalized norms of older parents and their adult children that may indicate a generational gap. Secondly, we will examine how intergenerational relations are regulated with respect to mutual expectations in migrant compared to non-migrant families and if this indicates an acculturation gap. Finally, we will explore how these aspects are related to relationship quality and subjective well-being (SWB) of all involved family members.
Results will be discussed in the framework of an integrative model of intergenerational family relations in the light of migration and ageing that might serve as a heuristic to explain similarities and differences between and within cultural groups in adult child-parent relations.