Intergenerational Relationships Across Multiple Children and Older Parents’ Depressive Symptoms in China—A Resource Contingency Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The multidimensional features of intergenerational relationships and the mixed feelings among parents with multiple children complicate how intergenerational relationships shape mental health among older parents. This study explores the patterns of intergenerational relationships among Chinese families with multiple children and their associations with older parents’ depressive symptoms. Methods Through 3 waves (2014, 2016, and 2018) of nationally representative longitudinal data obtained from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), we used the k-means clustering method and fixed-effects models to address the research questions. Results The findings revealed that over 41.64% of older parents had different types of intergenerational relationships with their different children. The closest parent–child relationship type was associated with the lowest levels of depressive symptoms among older parents, whereas the most estranged parent–child relationship type was associated with the highest levels of depressive symptoms. The most estranged parent–child relationship type (i.e., the alienated type) involving one child could reduce the psychological benefits gained through the closest type (i.e., the tight-knit type) involving another child. However, this moderation effect only manifested among socioeconomically privileged older parents. Discussion These findings highlight the importance of adopting a systematic view for studies regarding intergenerational relationships. The impacts of a single parent–child relationship on parents can be influenced by other parent–child relationships. Moreover, in the context of the dramatic and uneven social changes throughout China, the interactive features of intergenerational relationships have revealed an emerging strong preference for all-round relational harmony across multiple children, particularly among privileged Chinese families.