Consequences of Filial Support for Two Generations: A Narrative and Quantitative Review

Abstract

This narrative and quantitative review synthesizes findings from 55 ( N = 54,550) studies on the association between providing support to elderly parents and well-being of adult children as well as well-being of parents, in an endeavor to determine the prevailing direction of effects, magnitude of effects, and possible factors that may moderate these effects. The relation between caring for an elderly parent and well-being and/or caregiver burden in adult children was found to be insubstantial. Likewise, being cared for by adult children was found to be weakly related to well-being in elderly parents. More complex models including psychological aspects of caring; aspects of the intergenerational relationship, such as quality; and the inclusion of both the adult child’s and the parent’s perspectives on providing and receiving support appear more promising for understanding caregiving and well-being in intergenerational relationships beyond childhood.