The Association between Unequal Parental Treatment and the Sibling Relationship in Finland : The Difference between Full and Half-Siblings

Studies have shown that unequal parental treatment is associated with relationship quality between siblings. However, it is unclear how it affects the relationship between full and half-siblings. Using data from the Generational Transmissions in Finland project (n = 1,537 younger adults), we study whether those who have half-siblings perceive more unequal parental treatment than those who have full siblings only. In addition, we study how unequal parental treatment is associated with sibling relationship between full, maternal, and paternal half-siblings. First, we found that individuals who have maternal and/or paternal half-siblings are more likely to have encountered unequal maternal treatment than individuals who have full siblings only. Second, we found that unequal parental treatment impairs full as well as maternal and paternal half-sibling relations in adulthood. Third, unequal parental treatment mediates the effect of genetic relatedness on sibling relations in the case of maternal half-siblings, but not in the case of paternal half-Siblings. After controlling for unequal parental treatment, the quality of maternal half-sibling relationships did not differ from that of full siblings, whereas the quality of paternal half-sibling relationships still did. Fourth, the qualitative comments (n = 206) from the same population reveal that unequal parental treatment presents itself several ways, such as differential financial, emotional, or practical support.Peer reviewe

Intergenerational Family Relations : An Evolutionary Social Science Approach

Peer reviewe

Intergenerational Family Relations : An Evolutionary Social Science Approach

Peer reviewe

Should the family or the state provide support for the elderly people? : Findings from a two-generational Finnish study

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Perhetutkimuksen käänteet : (Jallinoja, Hurme & Jokinen, toim: Perhetutkimuksen suuntauksia)

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The “Kinship Penalty” : Parenthood and In-Law Conflict in Contemporary Finland

Intergenerational relations between affinal kin create both support and tensions to family members. Previous studies indicate that relations with affines may change once a grandchild is involved, yet this has not been explored with respect to conflicts. We use survey data of contemporary Finns (n = 1202) to investigate how parenthood is associated with the likelihood of reporting conflicts with one’s own parents and parents-in-law. Based on inclusive fitness theory, we hypothesise that affinal kin will be treated more like biological kin if a couple has children as compared to childless couples. Results show that overall, Finns reported higher conflict occurrence with their own parents than with their in-laws. Compared to childless couples, parents were as likely to report conflicts with their own parents, but more likely to report conflicts with their parents-in-law. Results were robust after taking into account several sociodemographic factors as well as the contact frequencies and emotional closeness between the parties concerned. Daughters-in-law were more likely to report conflicts when paternal grandmothers provided more grandchild care, indicating that the conflict measure used here is indeed related to investment in offspring. We conclude that shared relatedness to a grandchild renders affines “more like kin” with regards to conflicts, indicating the existence of a “kinship penalty” in family relation in addition to the previously reported “kinship premium”.Peer reviewe

Reciprocity between family generations in Germany : a within-person examination of longitudinal data

Although reciprocity of intergenerational support has been widely considered in family studies, empirical investigations are still rather scarce. This study used data from four waves of the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (Pairfam), which inquired the respondents about intergenerational support. We examined whether previously received support from parents is associated with later provision of support to parents. Indicators of intergenerational help were emotional support, practical help, financial aid and personal care. Our analyses used multilevel regression models and investigated both between- and within-person effects. Between-person models indicated mainly positive associations between received and provided support; however, these associations often did not hold in within-person models, which were used to detect individuals’ variations over time. According to within-person models, increased emotional support that sons received from a parent was associated with increased financial support to that parent later. Also, increased practical help that daughters received from their fathers was associated with increased financial aid to their fathers later. The magnitude of these positive within-person effects was small compared to the between-person effects; within-person models did not provide any other evidence for causal intergenerational reciprocity