Work

Adult intergenerational proximity and parents’ depressive symptoms: A bidirectional approach

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: To date, only a few studies have investigated the bidirectional relationship in the intergenerational proximity-health nexus, specifically how geographic proximity affects older parents' depressive symptoms and vice versa. Drawing on eight waves (2004–2018) of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (n = 17,671), we examine several mechanisms (‘mobilization’, ‘social support’, and ‘social breakdown’) that drive the complex relationship between intergenerational proximity and parental depressive symptoms. Dynamic panel models with fixed effects in a structural equation modeling context provided some weak evidence of a ‘mobilization effect’ (that is, parents', especially fathers', depression triggering greater proximity, including coresidence) and somewhat clearer evidence for a ‘social breakdown effect’ of coresidential transitions on parents' depressive symptoms (particularly among ‘Whites’ and fathers). We found no evidence to support the notion of a ‘social support mechanism’ (predicting that greater proximity or the transition to coresidence would decrease the number of parents' depressive symptoms). • Neglecting bidirectionality in mental health-proximity nexus risks biased results. • Dynamic panel models with fixed effects deal with this issue. • Coresidence negatively affects parents' mental health among fathers and ‘Whites’. • More research incorporating a dynamic perspective is needed.

Source: Social Science Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.103094

Authors: Lisa Jessee, Valeria Bordone, Karsten Hank

Institutions: University of Cologne, University of Vienna

Language: English

Topic: Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,060