Intergenerational Family Relations in Luxembourg: Adult Children and their Ageing Parents in Migrant and Non-Migrant Families

Whereas most studies in the context of acculturation research have focused so far on family relations between first generation parents and their second generation children in adolescence, the present study draws its attention on immigrant families at later stages in the family life cycle. This study is part of the FNR-funded project on “Intergenerational Relations in the Light of Migration and Ageing – IRMA” in which a cross-cultural comparison of altogether N = 120 Portuguese and Luxembourgish triads of older parents and their adult children, both living in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, is envisaged. The aims of this project are, firstly to examine similarities and differences in family values, internalized norms and mutual expectations of older parents and their adult children in migrant and non-migrant families; secondly, to analyze in how far an acculturation gap respectively a generation gap might have an impact on the relationship quality between parents and their adult children; thirdly and related to this, to explore subjective well-being (SWB) of all involved family members. Results are discussed in the framework of an integrative model of intergenerational family relations in the light of migration and ageing

Međugeneracijska solidarnost u odrasloj dobi: uloga obiteljskih normi u međugeneracijskoj potpori i ambivalentnosti

Starting from Bengtson\u27s solidarity paradigm, we will investigate the role of internalized family norms in intergenerational support as well as experienced ambivalence from the adult child perspective. We assume that internalized family norms are an important determinant of relationship regulation as they have an impact both on the selection of specific behavior as well as on its evaluation. As a consequence, own and others\u27 behavior should be most positively evaluated if it is in line with internalized norms and values. In contrast, if intergenerational solidarity and support exchange do not converge with internalized norms and expectations, ambivalence might be experienced. These assumptions are examined in a sample of N = 131 middle-aged adults living in Luxembourg and Germany. Findings showed that normative aspects of intergenerational solidarity were less important compared to affective aspects when predicting support exchange between adult children and their parents; however, family values had a moderating role in the relation between support exchange and ambivalence. Results are discussed with respect to the centrality of values in implicitly and explicitly guiding support behavior within families.Polazeći od Bengtsonove paradigme solidarnosti, istražit ćemo ulogu usvojenih obiteljskih normi u međugeneracijskoj potpori te iskustvo ambivalentnosti iz perspektive odrasloga djeteta. Pretpostavljamo da su usvojene obiteljske norme važna odrednica regulacije odnosa, jer utječu i na odabir specifičnoga ponašanja i na njegovu procjenu. Slijedom toga, vlastito ponašanje, kao i ponašanje drugih, trebalo bi najpozitivnije ocijeniti ako je u skladu s usvojenim normama i vrijednostima. Nasuprot tomu, ako međugeneracijska solidarnost i razmjena potpore nisu usklađeni s usvojenim normama i očekivanjima, može se iskusiti ambivalentnost. Ove pretpostavke ispituju se na uzorku od N = 131 odrasle osobe srednjih godina koje žive u Luksemburgu i Njemačkoj i koje su opisale svoj odnos prema majkama i očevima. Rezultati pokazuju da su normativni aspekti međugeneracijske solidarnosti bili manje važni u usporedbi s afektivnim aspektima u predviđanju razmjene potpore između odrasle djece i njihovih roditelja. Međutim, obiteljske vrijednosti imale su posredničku ulogu između razmjene potpore i ambivalentnosti. Rezultati su izloženi s obzirom na centralnost vrijednosti koje implicitno i eksplicitno usmjeravaju pružanje potpore unutar obitelji

Facing the challenges of ageing populations – Contributions from Geropsychology –

Human ageing represents one of the major challenges of Europe in the upcoming decades given that nine of the 10 oldest world populations are from Europe. This has and will have evident consequences at all levels of the socio-ecological context. It is thus a challenge for Psychology and especially Geropsychology to provide sound research-based knowledge about processes of human ageing as well as expertise about training, education and interventions that will help to promote quality of living and subjective well-being both at the individual and the social level. The symposium follows this notion and scholars from eight European countries will report on new developments in theory and research across the various geropsychology domains that will help to tackle the challenge of ageing. In a first part on “Cognitive decline, aging, and mental health”, the symposium will address clinical aspects of ageing. Di Nuovo (Italy) presents findings on interventions enhancing quality of life of elderly persons with mental deterioration or Mild Cognitive Impairment. R. Drăghici will report on the diagnostic use of drawings by elderly persons with neurocognitive disorders. Stepankova, Kopecek, and Schmand (Czech Republic) focus on positive aspects of ageing presenting findings on cognitive superageing. Gatterer, and Blokesch, (Austria) present the theoretical rationale underlying schematherapy use in older adults. The second part of the symposium addresses “Quality of life, aging, and health behaviour” and presents findings on personal and contextual factors that have an impact on these criteria. Fernández-Ballesteros, Angeles Molina and Sánchez Izquierdo (Spain) report findings on contextual influences in social images about ageing, testing predictions of the Stereotype Content Model. Lang and Damm (Germany) present theory and research findings on perceiving future time and its impact on preparing for old age. Despot Lucanin, Lucanin, Bjelajac and Delale (Croatia) present findings on the predictive contributions of psychosocial factors to life satisfaction in old adults. Finally, Ferring and Boll (Luxembourg) give insights into perceived gains and losses when caring for an older relative and their implications for psychosocial intervention

Intergenerational Solidarity in Adulthood: The Role of Family Norms in Intergenerational Support and Ambivalence

Starting from Bengtson’s solidarity paradigm, we will investigate the role of internalized family norms in intergenerational support as well as experienced ambivalence from the adult child perspective. We assume that internalized family norms are an important determinant of relationship regulation as they have an impact both on the selection of specific behavior as well as on its evaluation. As a consequence, own and others’ behavior should be most positively evaluated if it is in line with internalized norms and values. In contrast, if intergenerational solidarity and support exchange do not converge with internalized norms and expectations, ambivalence might be experienced. These assumptions are examined in a sample of N = 131 middle-aged adults living in Luxembourg and Germany, who reported on their relations toward their mothers and fathers. Findings showed that normative aspects of intergenerational solidarity were less important compared to affective aspects when predicting support exchange between adult children and their parents; however, family values had a moderating role in the relation between support exchange and ambivalence. Results are discussed with respect to the centrality of values in implicitly and explicitly guiding support behavior within families

When the reality of death strikes: Ways of dealing with existential fears in cancer patients.

In the present study existential fears and concerns in cancer patients were explored with respect to coping behavior and measures of subjective well-being. Thereby, cancer-related existential fears were assessed by means of a newly developed six-item scale. The study sample consisted of 126 patients undergoing ambulant treatment for different types of cancer. Data were collected at the University of Luxembourg, in cooperation with several medical centers and cancer foundations in Luxembourg, Germany and France. Results highlighted the importance of existential fears in cancer patients. Cluster analyses resulted in a two clustersolution, regrouping patients ‘‘high’’ and ‘‘low’’ levels of existential fears. Analyses of variance indicated that the cluster displaying high levels of existential fears showed significantly higher levels of ‘‘rumination’’ than the other cluster, associated with increased levels of ‘‘hopelessness’’ and lower ‘‘self-esteem’’. Results are discussed with respect to intervention programs focusing on the regulation of anxiety in cancer patients