Family Solidarity and Health Behaviors

Abstract

Guided by social control theory and an adapted version of Bengtson and Roberts's model of intergenerational solidarity, this study used data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), with respondents ( N=3,485) ages 25 to 74, to examine the associations between multiple dimensions of family solidarity (affectual, normative, associational, functional, structural) and seven behaviors advocated to promote health. Although some results supported the hypotheses that family ties promote better health behaviors, particularly among men, a number of cases were found to have either no association or a problematic association with positive health behaviors.