Divorce and Intergenerational Support: Comparing the Perceptions of Divorced Adults and Their Parents

Abstract

With changing marriage, birth, and parenthood pattems and increasing life expectancies, the multigenerational family has become ever more influential in supporting the family (Bengston, 2001; Pillemer and Luescher, 2004). As many studies have highlighted, intergenerational support may be required when adults separate or divorce (Finch, 1989; Smart; 2004; Thompson, 1999). The purpose of this article is to explore a central issue of intergenerational relations within families: comparing perceptions of intergenerational support when an adult child divorces between the "younger" generation (i.e., the couple going through the divorce) and the "older" generation (their parents).