The Structure of Intergenerational Exchanges in American Families

Intergenerational support is analyzed using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. The authors find evidence that a systematic latent structure of intergenerational exchange characterizes the giving and receiving of support. Overall, one-half of Americans do not routinely engage in giving or receiving relationships with their parents and only about one in 10 are engaged in extensive exchange relationships. Parents are assisted more often in situations of poor health, and more often receive assistance when they have young children. Assistance in time of need is not uniform and is rarely extensive. Intergenerational assistance is constrained by family structure and the needs and resources of each generation. African-Americans are consistently less likely than whites to be involved in intergenerational assistance. In each generation, men receive as much altruistic support as women; higher levels of giving and receiving of aid among American women are due to their greater involvement in exchange.