Systems of Parent Care within Sibling Networks

Abstract

This article examines factors related to the participation of adult children in their elderly parents' helping networks. A three-stage decision model was tested which predicts the likelihood that: (a) an adult child is named as a helper by elder respondents who have at least one living child; (b) an adult child is chosen as the primary helper in networks including at least one adult child; and (c) among those networks containing at least one son and one daughter (one of whom was named as the primary helper), a son is selected rather than a daughter as the primary helper. The analysis revealed the importance of geographic proximity in predicting the involvement of adult children in parental helping networks. The integral role of daughters and other female family members was also highlighted. Other factors, such as parents' marital status, gender, level of functional impairment, and family structure, were also examined.