The Impact of Family Composition on Providing Help to Older Parents

Abstract

Using a subsample from the Canadian Aging and Research Network (CARNET) Work and Family Survey of 1,015 persons who provide at least 1 hour of help weekly to one or both parents, the impact of family composition on providing help to older parents is examined. Specifically, three research questions are addressed: (1) Do family composition characteristics affect the number of hours of help provided to a parent or parents? (2) does the likelihood of being the sole provider of help differ according to these characteristics? and (3) does the likelihood of being the primary helper vary based on family composition? Family composition variables include gender and marital status of the respondent, number of brothers and sisters, the number of children age 20 and older and age 12 and under, and the gender of the parent. Several family composition variables are significant predictors, including number of sisters, number of brothers, and gender in interaction with marital status and number of siblings.