Dynamics of Family of Origin That Affect the Level of Support for the Elderly Parent Provided by the Family of Adult Children : Analysis and Intervention

가족(성인자녀)에 의한 노인부양의 종류와 정도에 영향을 미치는 이전(원) 가족관계 양상 분석 및 개입전략의 제시

A survey research was conducted for a sample of 306 adult children who have an elderly parent or both parents alive. The purpose of the research was to test a structural equation model which specified the effects of early family relationships on comtemporary relationships and assistance patterns between adult children and their parents. The data were analyzed using EQS for Windows 5.7, utilizing maximum likelihood method. The results showed that early family relationships affected filial concern first, which in turn affected the level of assistance provided by adult children for elderly parents. No direct effect has been found between early family relationships and the level of assistance by adult children for elderly parents. Filial concern was played as an intervening variable. Early family relationships gave no direct effects to adult children's intention to assist their parents. Here again, filial concern was played as an intervening factor. Adult children's intention to assist their parents had not been led directly to provision of actual support to parents by their adult children. Thus, it was identified that intention to support is one thing, and the actual support is another. Controlling for the effects of filial concern, overall, early family relationship patterns gave no differential effects to the different aspects of support provided to parents by their adult children. On the basis of these results, this paper provided both discussions and suggestions for some strategies of intervention in the present family relationships in order for the inter-generational exchange of supports to happen in the future.