Dynamics of Family Exchanges: How Life Course Transfers Influence Support From Adult Children

Abstract

The relationship between a parent and child is one of the most enduring relationships over the life course. Older parents may rely on their adult children for support as they age. We leverage data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2018) to assess the dynamics of family exchanges by examining multiple types of parent exchanges and later child behavior in parent-child dyads at the onset of a parent’s health limitations. Using logistic regression models, we find overall support for reciprocity, as adult children are more likely to help parents who helped them. We find that co-residence and financial transfers, but not grandchild care and being in the will, are associated with reciprocity, but patterns vary by cohort. More recent cohorts did not apply reciprocity to co-residence or financial transfers. This study highlights the importance of tracking change across time in patterns of intergenerational exchange.