Understanding Family Complexity in the Study of Intergenerational Relationships: Evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Generations Merril Silverstein, Ph.D. Professor of Gerontology and Sociology Davis School of Gerontology Department of Sociology University of Southern California

Families Through Historical Time Increased longevity means greater co-survival between generations and prolonged relationships. Possible kinship issues oFertility decline oHigher prevalence of divorce, remarriage, step-families oGeographic distance increasing oWeaker sense of filial obligation How to study social change in real time instead of using retrospective reports or using “proxy” evidence? How to better approach families systemically?

Studies of Families and Social Change Using a single individual as informant about family process at one historical moment limits research questions that can be addressed Use of retrospective reports has biases Cross-sectional comparisons regarding social change of interest (e.g., divorced vs. married) ignores socio-historical context Cohort studies in repeated cross-sections ignore intra-familial dependence and cannot address issues that require parent-child data

5 Generational-Sequential Design Members of different generations in the same families measured at the same age but at different historical periods to test for effects of social conditions at a common life-stage. Useful for studying age-dependent processes where social conditions are also changing.

Comparison of Intergenerational Relations Across Historical Contexts Historical/generational change in the quality of intergenerational relationships –Requires early reports from parents and later reports from children Has the quality of older parent-child relations weakened over historical time? If so, is this related to: –Increasing geographic distance –Rising divorce rates –Weakening norms of familism

The USC Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG) A multigenerational multi-time-point study, started in 1971 with repeated panels  Consists of about 3,000 individuals from 374 three-generation families recruited within Southern California region. Full families are surveyed: grandparents, parents, and grandchildren (16+), including siblings, spouses, former spouses. Fourth generation added in 1991 (Fifth generation in 2010).

Design of LSOG

Multi-generational Family Clusters

Application of Generational Sequential Design Do G3 children maintain less close relationship to their parents than G2 parents maintained with their parents? Is so, does a G3-G2 difference persist after controlling for individual-level variables representing the “social change” of interest. Methodological individualism: characteristics of serial generations proxy the social change of interest by virtue of their unique historical/cohort experiences.

Sample & Design Data for this analysis from LSOG: 554 G2s in 1971 and their G3 children surveyed between 1991  –G2s averaged 44 years of age in –G3s reached the age of each parent somewhere between For each G3 we use the survey that matches the closest to their parent’s 1971 age. Use multilevel modeling to estimate change in emotional closeness to parents over time in G2s and G3s, comparing (1) slopes and (2) levels at the historical time when they match in age.

Cross-Generational Comparisons in the LSOG T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8 Year G243  57  60  63  66  59  72  77 G320  34  37  40  43  46  49  54 G4 16  19  22  25  30

Cross-Generational Comparisons in the LSOG T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8 Year G243  57  60  63  66  59  72  77 G320  34  37  40  43  46  49  54 G4 16  19  22  25  30

Multi-level Regression Results Predicting the G3-G2 Cohort Gap * * * ** *

20 Cross Generational-Sequential Transmission of values, attitudes, beliefs, behavioral tendencies across age-matched generations within the same families. Multi-actor data? Causal direction? Research questions focusing on interdependencies and influence across family actors over time call for unique approaches.

Religion is a family affair. Children are socialized to religious traditions by parents and grandparents Do grandparents influence the values, attitudes, and beliefs of their grandchildren beyond the influence of parents, synergistically with parents, and as mediated by parents?

LSOG Data: Lagged Triads Grandparents in 1971 (mean age =44) –G2 = 257 Parents in 1988 (mean age = 40) –G3 = 341 Grandchildren in 2005 (mean age = 31) –G4 = 565

Measures of Religiosity Practice –Attendance at religious services: “never” to “everyday” Salience –Importance of “a religious life” ranked among 13 social values Identity –How religious are you?: “not at all” to “very religious” Beliefs –Strength of conservative religious beliefs: agreement with statements God exists in the form as described in the Bible All people today are descendents of Adam and Eve All children should receive religious training Religion should play an important role in daily life Additive scale (standardized factor score) computed for each generation

Nesting of Grandchildren in Two Three-Generational Families: Basis for Multi-level Modeling Grandparent: Red Grandparent: Green Parent #1 Parent #2 Parent #3 Parent #1 Parent #2

Empirical Results from Multilevel Models Transmission of Religiosity Grandparent Religiosity 1971 Parent Religiosity 1988 Grandchild Religiosity *.38***.32***

Parents’ direct influence is almost four times that of grandparents, but grandparents do directly influence their grandchildren net of parents. Grandparents also indirectly influence their grandchildren through parents. Total influence of grandparents (.22) is 58% that of parents (.38). Source: Copen & Silverstein, 2007, Journal of Comparative Family Studies.

Grandchildren are most religious when both their parents and grandparents are more religious. Suggests that several generations together reinforce a family culture of religiosity.

Grandparents are better able to transmit their religiosity to grandchildren within intact families. Parental divorce is associated with less religiosity in their children; grandparents do not compensate.

Measures of Gender Role Attitude Husbands ought to have the main say in family matters [Disagree] Women’s liberation ideas make a lot of sense to me [Agree] It goes against nature to put women in positions of authority over men [Disagree] Women who want to remove the word “obey” from the marriage service don’t understand what it means to be a good wife. [Disagree] Additive scale (standardized factor score) computed for each generation

Grandmother Gender Role Attitudes 1971 Mother Role Attitudes 1988 Grandchild Gender Role Attitudes **.09** Mother Contact with Grandmother * Empirical Results from Multilevel Models Transmission of Gender Role Attitudes

31 Longitudinal Generational-Sequential Design in the LSOG Using 14 Years

Summary Generational-sequential designs provide useful tools for understanding how societal change is manifest in micro-family environments and across multiple family members. Generational differences can be investigated with GSD in terms of change across cohorts –Intergenerational ties weakening over historical time. And in terms of cross-cohort continuity –Intergenerational transmission occurring (and possibly changing) over historical time.