The Effect of Parental Divorce and Remarriage on Parental Support for Adult Children

Abstract

This article uses the NSFH data set to examine the consequences of parental divorce and remarriage for parental support for adult children. Using three dimensions of parental support (social, instrumental, and financial), the findings show a significant and substantial support deficit when comparing divorced to first-married parents. Remarriage does not substantially enlarge nor decrease this support deficit. Although there are gender interactions, support deficits are generally significant for both mothers and fathers. With the exception of financial support, support deficits from ever-divorced parents appear to be due largely to lower parent-child solidarity rather than to decreased parental resources.