Intergenerational family relations in Luxembourg: Family values and intergenerational solidarity in Portuguese immigrant and Luxembourgish families

in European Psychologist (2013), 18(1), 59-69

According to the intergenerational solidarity model, family members who share similar values about family obligations should have a closer relationship and support each other more than families with a ... [more ▼]

According to the intergenerational solidarity model, family members who share similar values about family obligations should have a closer relationship and support each other more than families with a lower value consensus. The present study first describes similarities and differences between two family generations (mothers and daughters) with respect to their adherence to family values and, second, examines patterns of relations between intergenerational consensus on family values, affectual solidarity, and functional solidarity in a sample of 51 mother-daughter dyads comprising N = 102 participants from Luxembourgish and Portuguese immigrant families living in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Results showed a small generation gap in values of hierarchical gender roles, but an acculturation gap was found in Portuguese mother-daughter dyads regarding obligations toward the family. A higher mother-daughter value consensus was related to higher affectual solidarity of daughters toward their mothers but not vice versa. Whereas affection and value consensus both predicted support provided by daughters to their mothers, affection mediated the relationship between consensual solidarity and received maternal support. With regard to mothers, only affection predicted provided support for daughters, whereas mothers’ perception of received support from their daughters was predicted by value consensus and, in the case of Luxembourgish mothers, by affection toward daughters. [less ▲]

Emotional relations with grandparents and received support: The adolescent view.

in Journal of Intergenerational Relationships (2011), 9(3), 1-17

Following concepts of solidarity and intergenerational ambivalence, the present study focuses on the perspectives of high school students (N = 155) aged 12 to 21 to describe their relationships to ... [more ▼]

Following concepts of solidarity and intergenerational ambivalence, the present study focuses on the perspectives of high school students (N = 155) aged 12 to 21 to describe their relationships to maternal and paternal grandparents with respect to (a) emotional quality and (b) grandparental support. Based on the frequency of positive and negative emotions, a classification approach is adopted to determine patterns of relationship quality. Parental lineage differences are found with regard to size and profile of clusters. Cluster comparisons regarding appraisals of received grandparental support (emotional, instrumental, material) indicate that support is significantly diminished if relations become disharmonious or detached. [less ▲]

Psychologische Ambivalenz in Eltern-Kind-Beziehungen: Entwicklung und Teststatistische Überprüfung eines Instrumentes zur direkten Konstruktabbildung

in Focus Diagnostica (2011), 57(1), 39-51

Besides the intergenerational solidarity paradigm, the concept of psychological ambivalence has emerged as a key dimension for the description of intergenerational relations. Psychological ambivalence is ... [more ▼]

Besides the intergenerational solidarity paradigm, the concept of psychological ambivalence has emerged as a key dimension for the description of intergenerational relations. Psychological ambivalence is defined as the concomitant occurrence of contradictory motives, emotions, and action tendencies towards one person. The present study aimed at the development of a Questionnaire for the Measurement of Ambivalence in Parent-Child-Relations in Adulthood. It comprises k = 23 items that are available in a maternal and in a paternal version. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were carried out on a sample of N = 210 young and middle-aged adults, and showed different two-factor structures for the two versions. Further, a short version of the questionnaire was developed that allows for comparisons between parental relationships. Examination of the psychometric properties of the scales revealed sound reliability. Further, first substantive evidence for the criterion validity of the scales is reported. [less ▲]

Trait and state components of perceived parental differential treatment in middle adulthood. A longitudinal study.

in Journal of Individual Differences (2010), 31(3), 158-165

Despite its importance for basic and applied psychology, only a few longitudinal studies have examined whether parental differential treatment (PDT) is a persistent or a transient phenomenon, these ... [more ▼]

Despite its importance for basic and applied psychology, only a few longitudinal studies have examined whether parental differential treatment (PDT) is a persistent or a transient phenomenon, these studies being confined to childhood or adolescence. Based on latent state-trait theory, the present study identified the amount of variance in three dimensions of perceived PDT in middle adulthood attributable to stable interindividual differences (trait variance) and to intraindividual changes (state variance). At two occasions of measurement (2 years apart), 709 middle-aged adults rated how often they and a sibling currently received parental recognition, nurture, and demand to assume filial responsibility. Tests of latent state-trait models for these three dimensions of PDT by structural equation modeling revealed that trait variance represented the largest proportion of the systematic variance in all observed indicators of perceived maternal and paternal differential treatment. Yet there was a considerable increase in state variance for the dimension of differential parental demand for assuming responsibility. Results are discussed with respect to the conditions accounting for the high overall stability of actual and/or perceived PDT in adulthood, and different approaches for determining their role are proposed. [less ▲]

Zur Messung psychologischer Ambivalenz in Eltern-Kind Beziehungen: Entwicklung und psychometrische Überprüfung eines diagnostischen Instrumentes zur direkten Konstruktabbildung

Scientific Conference (2009)

Familien und Generationen

in Handbuch der sozialen und erzieherischen Arbeit in Luxemburg / Manuel de l'intervention sociale et éducative au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (2009)

Assessing responsibilities for elder care within families

in Abstract paper of the 20th Biennial ISSBD Meeting. Würzburg, Germany. (2008)

Transmission of values and intergenerational Solidarity in Luxembourg

in Presented at the 4th Congress of the European Society on Family Relations. Jyväskylä, Finland. (2008)

Grandparental relationships, received support, and attributions of support motives: the perspectives of adolescents

Scientific Conference (2008)

Support in case of sickness and disability. The perspectives of the elderly

in Abstract book of 10th European Congress of Psychology (2007)