@article {13381, title = {Losing a Parent Early Affects Immune Systems Later On}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Michigan News, University of Michigan}, address = {Ann Arbor, MI}, keywords = {Caregivers, Immune System, Loss, Parents}, url = {https://news.umich.edu/losing-a-parent-early-in-life-impacts-a-persons-immune-system-as-they-age/$\#$:~:text=A\%20group\%20of\%20researchers\%20led,negatively\%20impacted\%20in\%20late\%20life.}, author = {Sherburne, Morgan} } @article {13490, title = {Older {\textquoteleft}sandwich generation{\textquoteright} Californians spent more time with parents and less with grandkids after paid family leave law took effect}, year = {2023}, publisher = {The Conversation}, keywords = {Caregiving, grandchildren, paid family leave, Parents}, url = {https://theconversation.com/older-sandwich-generation-californians-spent-more-time-with-parents-and-less-with-grandkids-after-paid-family-leave-law-took-effect-210154}, author = {Abramowitz, Joelle} } @article {13164, title = {Under Different Roofs? Coresidence With Adult Children and Parents{\textquoteright} Mental Health Across Race and Ethnicity Over Two Decades.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {60}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Apr 01}, pages = {461-492}, abstract = {

Many U.S. parents share a household with an adult child in later life. However, the reasons parents and adult children coreside may vary over time and across family race/ethnicity, shaping relationships with parents{\textquoteright} mental health. Using the Health and Retirement Study, this study investigates the determinants and mental health correlates of coresidence with adult children from 1998 to 2018 among White, Black, and Hispanic parents under age 65 and aged 65+. Findings show that the predictors of coresidence shifted with increasing odds that parents lived with an adult child, and several varied by parents{\textquoteright} age group and race/ethnicity. Compared with White parents, Black and Hispanic parents were more likely to live with adult children, especially at older ages, and to indicate that they helped their children with household finances or functional limitations. Living with adult children was associated with higher depressive symptoms among White parents, and mental health was negatively related to living with adult children who were not working or were helping parents with functional limitations. The findings highlight increasing diversity among adult child-coresident parents and underscore persistent differences in the predictors and meaning of coresidence with adult children across race/ethnicity.

}, keywords = {Adult, Adult children, ethnicity, Humans, Intergenerational Relations, Mental Health, Parents, Residence Characteristics}, issn = {1533-7790}, doi = {10.1215/00703370-10571923}, author = {Caputo, Jennifer and Cagney, Kathleen A} } @article {13392, title = {With paid leave, older adults care for parents instead of grandchildren}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Michigan News, University of Michigan}, address = {Ann Arbor, MI}, keywords = {Caregivers, grandchildren, paid leave, Parents}, url = {https://news.umich.edu/with-paid-leave-older-adults-care-for-parents-instead-of-grandchildren/$\#$:~:text=Now\%2C\%20a\%20University\%20of\%20Michigan,time\%20looking\%20after\%20their\%20parents.}, author = {Sherburne, Morgan} } @article {BEGLEY2022100394, title = {Next to Kin: How Children Influence the Residential Mobility Decisions of Older Adults}, journal = {The Journal of the Economics of Ageing}, volume = {23}, year = {2022}, pages = {100394}, abstract = {This paper explores the residential mobility of older adults, with a focus on the influence of distance to children on those decisions. Using the geocoded Health and Retirement Study, we statistically estimate the importance of adult child proximity on older adult moves after controlling for a host of other factors. We find that having adult children nearby is associated with a lower propensity to move, with closer proximity generally having a stronger negative relationship, up to a distance of 50 miles. These results are more pronounced if we define mobility as having moved at least 30 miles, or across metropolitan areas. We also show that the relationship is stronger for those with care needs, and for renters compared with homeowners. Results for the baby boomer cohort suggest that the proximity of children continues to have an important influence on older adult mobility among more recent cohorts of older adults.}, keywords = {Aging, children, Housing, mobility, Parents, Proximity}, issn = {2212-828X}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2022.100394}, author = {Jaclene Begley and Sewin Chan} } @article {Wolfova970, title = {Offspring Sex and Parental Cognition in Mid-life and Older Adulthood (P1-3.004)}, journal = {Neurology}, volume = {98}, year = {2022}, pages = {970}, abstract = {Objective: We aim to examine the relationship between offspring sex and parental baseline level of cognition and rate of cognitive decline in older adults.Background: Studies suggest a link between offspring sex and maternal long-term health outcomes, including dementia. One of the proposed explanations is male microchimerism of foetal origin. We hypothesize that mothers of at least 1 boy would have better cognition than mothers with no boys, and there would be no differences in fathers.Design/Methods: We analysed a cohort of 13,777 adults age >= 50 years from the US Health and Retirement Study. Offspring sex was classified as no boy vs. at least 1 boy in primary analysis and as number of boys (0 boys, 1 boy, 2 boys, 3 or more boys) and number of girls (0 girls, 1 girl, 2 girls, 3 or more girls) in secondary analysis. Cognition was assessed using a sum of scores from immediate and delayed 10-noun free recall tests, a serial 7s subtraction test, and a backwards counting test. Associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for 1) baseline age, sex, ethnicity, parity; 2) socioeconomic factors; and 3) health-related factors and marital status.Results: A total of 17.7\% of respondents had no boy and 60.1\% of respondents were female. Stratifying on parental sex, mothers and fathers of at least 1 boy had a significantly higher baseline cognition in comparison to those with no boy. Associations were attenuated in adjusted models. In secondary analysis, having 3 or more boys was associated with higher baseline cognition in fathers, there were no differences in mothers. We found a significant association of cognitive decline with number of boys, but not with number of girls.Conclusions: Offspring sex was associated with cognitive aging among both mothers and fathers, suggesting interplay of biological and social influences.Disclosure: Dr. Wolfova has nothing to disclose. Mr. Wu has nothing to disclose. Mr. Kohler has nothing to disclose. Prof. Skirbekk has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stern has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Eisai. Dr. Stern has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Stern has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Prof. Gemmill has received research support from National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Prof. Gemmill has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant with World Health Organization. The institution of Sarah Tom has received research support from National Institutes of Health . Sarah Tom has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant with Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Association .}, keywords = {Cognition, Cognitive decline, offspring sex, Parents}, issn = {0028-3878}, url = {https://n.neurology.org/content/98/18_Supplement/970}, author = {Wolfova, Katrin and Wu, Di and Weiss, Jordan and Cermakova, Pavla and Kohler, Hans-Peter and Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse and Stern, Yaakov and Gemmill, Alison and Tom, Sarah} } @article {10065, title = {Association of parenthood with incident heart disease in United States{\textquoteright} older men and women: A longitudinal analysis of health and retirement study data.}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, volume = {32}, year = {2020}, pages = {517-529}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of number of children birthed/fathered with incident heart disease, accounting for socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics.

METHODS: We analyzed data from 24,923 adults 50 and older (55\% women) in the Health and Retirement Study. Participants self-reported number of children and doctor-diagnosed incident heart disease. Cox proportional hazards models estimated heart disease risk.

RESULTS: Compared to women with one to two children, those with five or more had increased risk of heart disease (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.13, 95\% confidence interval [CI] = [1.03, 1.25]). Compared to men with one to two children, those with five or more had a marginally increased risk of heart disease (HR = 1.11, 95\% CI = [0.99, 1.25]), but this association attenuated in models adjusting for socioeconomic and lifestyle variables. Compared to men with no children, those with five or more retained a borderline significant association in the fully adjusted model (HR = 1.15, 95\% CI = [0.99, 1.35]).

DISCUSSION: Social and lifestyle pathways appear to link parenthood to cardiovascular health.

}, keywords = {Gender Differences, Heart disease, Parents, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic factors}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264319831512}, author = {Sarah L Hipp and Wu, Yan Yan and Nicole T A Rosendaal and Catherine M. Pirkle} } @mastersthesis {11390, title = {Essays on Inter Vivos Transfers and Early Career Choices}, year = {2020}, school = {Indiana University}, address = {Bloomington, IN}, abstract = {My dissertation explores the linkage between parental financial support and child choices in the labor market. In the first chapter, I use data from the Health and Retirement Study from 1992-2014 to estimate differences in the frequency and magnitude of inter vivos transfers (financial gifts) to sons and daughters. Although there is no evidence of differences in amounts, parents give to daughters at higher rates. I explore potential mechanisms for this disparity and find that the difference in giving rates is partially explained by higher expected rates of future care from daughters. Even after controlling for differences in care-taking, income levels, and other characteristics, parents are still 10-20\% more likely to give transfers to their daughters, especially while they are unmarried. In the second chapter, I find evidence that parents affect their child{\textquoteright}s career choice through inter vivos transfers. Children with wealthy parents favor jobs that have riskier income streams relative to their expected earnings because high-income parents can insure their children against large negative earnings shocks. Using the 1997 cohort from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth, I rank major fields of study according to two measures of earnings uncertainty. Using statistical methods, I show that children of higher income parents select into fields with higher earnings uncertainty. This effect is especially strong for men and first-generation college students. In the third chapter, I evaluate additional tradeoffs in the choice of college major. College majors carry both monetary (high expected earnings, job security) and nonmonetary (enjoyment, social change) benefits. Children with wealthier parents are much more likely to choose a major for nonpecuniary reasons. Additionally, gender is an important factor as women are significantly more likely to favor nonpecuniary benefits. The magnitude of the gender effect is approximately equivalent to an extra $100,000 in parent{\textquoteright}s income.}, keywords = {children, Financial Support, Parents}, author = {Loxton, Abigail} } @article {12080, title = {Long-term decline in intergenerational mobility in the United States since the 1850s.}, journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A}, volume = {117}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 01 07}, pages = {251-258}, abstract = {

We make use of newly available data that include roughly 5 million linked household and population records from 1850 to 2015 to document long-term trends in intergenerational social mobility in the United States. Intergenerational mobility declined substantially over the past 150 y, but more slowly than previously thought. Intergenerational occupational rank-rank correlations increased from less than 0.17 to as high as 0.32, but most of this change occurred to Americans born before 1900. After controlling for the relatively high mobility of persons from farm origins, we find that intergenerational social mobility has been remarkably stable. In contrast with relative stability in rank-based measures of mobility, absolute mobility for the nonfarm population-the fraction of offspring whose occupational ranks are higher than those of their parents-increased for birth cohorts born prior to 1900 and has fallen for those born after 1940.

}, keywords = {Censuses, Family Characteristics, Female, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century, Humans, Income, Intergenerational Relations, Male, Parents, social mobility, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1905094116}, author = {Song, Xi and Massey, Catherine G and Rolf, Karen A and Ferrie, Joseph P and Rothbaum, Jonathan L and Xie, Yu} } @article {9551, title = {Purpose in Life Among Centenarian Offspring.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

Objectives: Purpose in life (PIL), a feeling of meaning and direction in life, is associated with favorable health outcomes including lower mortality and reduced risk of disease, disability, and cognitive impairment. Since centenarian offspring have been shown to have long health spans we sought to examine whether they have higher PIL than individuals without familial longevity.

Method: We compared PIL scores from the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being in centenarian offspring from the New England Centenarian Study (N=361, mean age=82.0 years) with three referent groups: spouses, birth cohort-matched referents, and Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants.

Results: Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, and marital status indicated greater odds of high PIL among centenarian offspring compared with spouse (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.92, 95\% CI 1.002-3.68, p=.049) and birth cohort referents (aOR 2.64, 95\% CI 1.36-5.14, p=.004). Offspring had an almost three times greater odds of having high PIL than HRS participants (OR 2.93, 95\% CI 2.17-3.96, p<0.0001).

Discussion: Higher PIL is associated with being an offspring of a long-lived parent and may play a role in the ability to delay age-associated illnesses and functional decline. Increasing purposefulness may be a target for interventions to promote healthy aging.

}, keywords = {Adult children, Logistic Regression, Mortality, Multigenerational, Parents, Purpose in life}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gby023}, author = {Marone, Sarah and Bloore, Katherine and Sebastiani, Paola and Flynn, Christopher and Leonard, Brittany and Whitaker, Kelsey and Mostowy, Marilyn and Thomas T Perls and Andersen, Stacy L} } @article {10116, title = {Crowded nests: Parent-adult child coresidence transitions and parental mental health following the Great Recession.}, journal = {Journal of Health and Social Behavior}, volume = {60}, year = {2019}, pages = {204-221}, abstract = {Although many studies have examined contemporary increases in parent-adult child coresidence, questions about what this demographic shift means for the well-being of parents remain. This article draws on insights from the life course perspective to investigate the relationship between parent-adult child coresidence and parental mental health among U.S. adults ages 50+, distinguishing between parents stably living with and without adult children and those who transitioned into or out of coresidence with an adult child. Based on analyses of the 2008 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( = 11,277), parents with a newly coresidential adult child experienced an increase in depressive symptoms relative to their peers without coresidential adult children. Further analyses suggest that transitions to coresidence that occurred in the southern United States or involved out-of-work children were particularly depressing for parents. These findings highlight the significance of evolving intergenerational living arrangements for the well-being of older adults.}, keywords = {Adult children, Depressive symptoms, Great Recession, Parents}, issn = {2150-6000}, doi = {10.1177/0022146519849113}, author = {Caputo, Jennifer} } @article {12132, title = {Genomics of 1 million parent lifespans implicates novel pathways and common diseases and distinguishes survival chances.}, journal = {Elife}, volume = {8}, year = {2019}, pages = {e39856}, abstract = {

We use a genome-wide association of 1 million parental lifespans of genotyped subjects and data on mortality risk factors to validate previously unreplicated findings near , , , , , and 13q21.31, and identify and replicate novel findings near , , and . We also validate previous findings near 5q33.3/ and , whilst finding contradictory evidence at other loci. Gene set and cell-specific analyses show that expression in foetal brain cells and adult dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is enriched for lifespan variation, as are gene pathways involving lipid proteins and homeostasis, vesicle-mediated transport, and synaptic function. Individual genetic variants that increase dementia, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer - but not other cancers - explain the most variance. Resulting polygenic scores show a mean lifespan difference of around five years of life across the deciles.

Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor{\textquoteright}s assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Bayes Theorem, Disease, DNA Methylation, Female, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genomics, Humans, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Multifactorial Inheritance, Parents, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors, Sex Characteristics, Signal Transduction, Survival Analysis}, issn = {2050-084X}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.39856}, author = {Paul Rhj Timmers and Mounier, Ninon and Lall, Kristi and Fischer, Krista and Ning, Zheng and Feng, Xiao and Bretherick, Andrew D and Clark, David W and Shen, Xia and T{\~o}nu Esko and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and James F Wilson and Joshi, Peter K} } @article {8706, title = {Early Origins of Adult Cancer Risk Among Men and Women: Influence of Childhood Misfortune?}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {30}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 01}, pages = {140-163}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of five childhood misfortune domains-parental behavior, socioeconomic status, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and impairments-on all-site and selected site-specific cancer prevalence and all-site cancer incidence.

METHOD: Panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2012) were used to investigate cancer risk among adults above the age of 50.

RESULTS: Risky parental behavior and impairment in childhood were associated with higher odds of all-site cancer prevalence, and childhood chronic disease was associated with prostate cancer, even after adjusting for adult health and socioeconomic factors. Moreover, having one infectious disease in childhood lowered the odds of colon cancer. Cancer trends varied by race and ethnicity, most notably, higher prostate cancer prevalence among Black men and lower all-site cancer among Hispanic adults.

DISCUSSION: These findings underscore the importance of examining multiple domains of misfortune because the type and amount of misfortune influence cancer risk in different ways.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Aged, Child, Female, Hispanic Americans, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Parents, Prevalence, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Social Class, Social Conditions, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264316670049}, author = {Blakelee R Kemp and Kenneth F Ferraro and Patricia M Morton and Sarah A Mustillo} } @article {9097, title = {Life events and Black-White differences in adult children{\textquoteright}s financial assistance to mothers.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {58}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Sept 04}, abstract = {

Background and Objectives: Parents who experience life events with negative economic consequences may rely on adult children for financial assistance. This study provided national estimates of Black and White mothers{\textquoteright} financial help from adult children. It also examined whether the Black-White difference in the likelihood of a mother{\textquoteright}s receipt of financial assistance persisted after accounting for life events reflecting parental need and children{\textquoteright}s ability to provide help.

Research Design and Methods: The Health and Retirement Study was used to examine late middle aged (51-70) Black and White mothers{\textquoteright} financial help from adult children. Cross-sectional point estimates of financial help from noncoresident and coresident children were based on pooling these data. Random effects logistic regression at the mother-wave level was used to estimate the likelihood of receipt of financial assistance from noncoresident children.

Results: On average, 9\% (8\%) of Blacks and 3\% (4\%) of Whites reported help from noncoresident (coresident) children in a given interview wave, but Blacks received lower amounts. Changes signifying greater parental financial need and noncoresident children{\textquoteright}s greater resources were positively associated with receiving financial help from noncoresident children. After accounting for these factors, race differences remained.

Discussion and Implications: Black mothers are more likely to rely on children for financial help than Whites. Since this help hinges on the ability of their children to provide, the strength of Blacks{\textquoteright} economic safety net as they age also depends on the socioeconomic well-being of the younger generation.

}, keywords = {Financial aid, Parents, Racial/ethnic differences}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnx069}, author = {Sung S Park} } @article {9538, title = {Parental retirement timing: the role of unanticipated events in the lives of adult children}, journal = {Journal of Population Economics}, volume = {31}, year = {2018}, pages = {747{\textendash}781}, abstract = {Although anecdotal evidence of older parents postponing retirement to financially support their grown children is common, the empirical evidence is scarce. In this paper, we use data from the 1992 to 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to identify a broad set of pivotal events in the lives of adult children. First, we determine whether these events affect subsequent financial transfers from parents to children over multiple years. Next, we determine whether those events that result in subsequent transfers also shift parental retirement expectations. Finally, we quantify the impact of the unexpected children{\textquoteright}s events on retirement realizations, moving beyond the correlational analyses in prior literature. Our findings show that a child{\textquoteright}s move out of a parental home decreases both expectations and realizations of working after age 65. The magnitude of this effect is similar to that of an own health shock experienced during pre-retirement years.}, keywords = {Adult children, Parents, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Wealth Shocks}, issn = {0933-1433}, doi = {10.1007/s00148-018-0698-8}, author = {Miller, Marina and Tamborini, Christopher R. and Reznik, Gayle L.} } @article {9435, title = {Postsecondary Schooling and Parental Resources: Evidence from the PSID and HRS}, journal = {Education Finance and Policy}, volume = {13}, year = {2018}, pages = {72-96}, abstract = {We examine the association between young adult postsecondary schooling and parental financial resources using two datasets that contain high-quality data on parental resources: the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We find the association to be pervasiveit exists for income and wealth, it extends far up the income and wealth distributions, it remains even after we control for a host of other characteristics, and it continues beyond simply beginning postsecondary schooling to completing a four-year degree. Using the Transition to Adulthood supplement to the PSID, we also find that financial resources strongly affect postsecondary schooling for all levels of high school achievement, and particularly for those at the highest level.}, keywords = {Education, Inequality, Parents, PSID}, issn = {1557-3060}, doi = {10.1162/edfp_a_00219}, url = {http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/edfp_a_00219http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/EDFP_a_00219}, author = {Steven Haider and Kathleen McGarry} } @article {8823, title = {Genome-wide Association Study of Parental Life Span.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {72}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Oct 01}, pages = {1407-1410}, abstract = {

Background: Having longer lived parents has been shown to be an important predictor of health trajectories and life span. As such, parental life span is an important phenotype that may uncover genes that affect longevity.

Methods: A genome-wide association study of parental life span in participants of European and African ancestry from the Health and Retirement Study was conducted.

Results: A genome-wide significant association was observed for rs35715456 (log10BF = 6.3) on chromosome 18 for the dichotomous trait of having at least one long-lived parent versus not having any long-lived parent. This association was not replicated in an independent sample from the InCHIANTI and Framingham Heart Study. The most significant association among single nucleotide polymorphisms in longevity candidate genes (APOE, MINIPP1, FOXO3, EBF1, CAMKIV, and OTOL1) was observed in the EBF1 gene region (rs17056207, p = .0002).

Conclusions: A promising genetic signal for parental life span was identified but was not replicated in independent samples.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Parents, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Trans-Activators}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glw206}, url = {http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/gerona/glw206https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/2422264/Genomewide-Association-Study-of-Parental-Life-Span}, author = {Toshiko Tanaka and Ambarish Dutta and Luke C Pilling and Xue, Luting and Kathryn L Lunetta and Joanne M Murabito and Bandinelli, Stefania and Robert B Wallace and David Melzer and Luigi Ferrucci} } @article {7816, title = {Former stepparents{\textquoteright} contact with their stepchildren after midlife.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {68}, year = {2013}, note = {Copyright - Copyright Oxford University Press, UK May 2013 Last updated - 2013-04-19 DOI - 2948942401; 77441762; 9698; PGN2; INODPGN20000698908}, month = {2013 May}, pages = {409-19}, publisher = {68}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Based on the life course perspective and gender differences in stepparental roles, this study examines frequency of social contact between mid- to late-life stepparents and their stepchildren after stepparents{\textquoteright} marriage to their stepchildren{\textquoteright}s biological parent has been dissolved through widowhood or divorce.

METHOD: Using 5 waves of panel data on stepparent-stepchild pairs from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 12,947 stepchild observations on 4,063 stepchildren belonging to 1,663 stepparents) spanning 10 years (1998-2008), I estimate ordered logit multilevel models predicting former stepparent-stepchild contact frequency.

RESULTS: Results indicate that former stepparents have notably less frequent contact with their stepchildren than current stepparents, particularly following divorce. Widowed stepparents{\textquoteright} contact with their stepchildren diminishes gradually following union disruption, whereas divorced stepparents{\textquoteright} contact frequency drops abruptly. Former stepfathers have less contact with their stepchildren than former stepmothers. Finally, I uncover evidence of the moderating role of (step)parents{\textquoteright} marriage length and stepparents{\textquoteright} number of biological children on widowed stepparent-stepchild contact frequency.

DISCUSSION: Older stepparents{\textquoteright} social contact with their stepchildren is largely conditional on stepparents{\textquoteright} enduring marital bond to their stepchildren{\textquoteright}s biological parent. This study contributes to a growing literature portraying relatively weak ties between older adults and their stepchildren.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Family Characteristics, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Marital Status, Middle Aged, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Social Support, Young Adult}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbt021}, url = {http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/docview/1329184768?accountid=14667}, author = {Claire No{\"e}l-Miller} } @article {7955, title = {Longer lived parents: protective associations with cancer incidence and overall mortality.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {68}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, month = {2013 Nov}, pages = {1409-18}, publisher = {68}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Children of centenarians have lower cardiovascular disease prevalence and live longer. We aimed to estimate associations between the full range of parental attained ages and health status in a middle-aged U.S. representative sample.

METHODS: Using Health and Retirement Study data, models estimated disease incidence and mortality hazards for respondents aged 51-61 years at baseline, followed up for 18 years. Full adjustment included sex, race, smoking, wealth, education, body mass index, and childhood socioeconomic status. Mother{\textquoteright}s and father{\textquoteright}s attained age distributions were used to define short-, intermediate-, and long-lived groups, yielding a ranked parental longevity score (n = 6,055, excluding short-long discordance). Linear models (n = 8,340) tested mother{\textquoteright}s or father{\textquoteright}s attained ages, adjusted for each other.

RESULTS: With increasing mother{\textquoteright}s or father{\textquoteright}s survival (>65 years), all-cause mortality declined 19\% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.81, 95\% CI: 0.76-0.86, p < .001) and 14\% per decade (HR = 0.87, 95\% CI: 0.81-0.92, p < .001). Estimates changed only modestly when fully adjusted. Parent-in-law survival was not associated with mortality (n = 1,809, HR = 1.00, 95\% CI: 0.90-1.12, p = .98). Offspring with one or two long-lived parents had lower cancer incidence (938 cases, HR per parental longevity score = 0.76, 95\% CI: 0.61-0.94, p = .01) versus two intermediate parents. Similar HRs for diabetes (HR = 0.89, 95\% CI: 0.84-0.96, p = .001), heart disease (HR = 0.88, 95\% CI: 0.82-0.93, p < .001), and stroke (HR = 0.86, 95\% CI: 0.78-0.95, p = .002) were significant, but there was no trend for arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS: The results provide the first robust evidence that increasing parental attained age is associated with lower cancer incidence in offspring. Health advantages of having centenarian parents extend to a wider range of parental longevity and may provide a quantitative trait of slower aging.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Incidence, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Neoplasms, Parents}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glt061}, author = {Ambarish Dutta and Henley, William and Robine, Jean-Marie and Kenneth M. Langa and Robert B Wallace and David Melzer} } @article {7800, title = {Personality profile of the children of long-lived parents.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {68}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Sep}, pages = {730-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Past research has shown that parental longevity is related to offspring physical health and longevity. Preliminary studies suggest that parental longevity may be linked to the offspring{\textquoteright}s personality traits. A comprehensive 5-factor personality model has been related to physical health, but the association with parental longevity has not yet been investigated. We used a 5-factor personality model to investigate the relationship between parental longevity and offspring personality.

METHOD: Data from the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used in the analyses. Using the Midlife Development Inventory and the Life Orientation test, the relationship between parental attained age and offspring personality was assessed using regression models for both men and women.

RESULTS: Male offspring of long-lived fathers and mothers were more likely to be open to new experiences (p < .01) and be more extroverted (p = .03) compared with male offspring of short-lived fathers or mothers. Maternal or paternal attained age had no effect on the female offspring personality traits.

DISCUSSION: Personality is an important phenotype to consider when investigating genetic and environmental determinants of longevity. Further research is needed to investigate the potential of gender-specific mechanisms.

}, keywords = {Aged, Extraversion, Psychological, Fathers, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Longevity, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mothers, Parents, Personality, Personality Inventory, Sex Factors}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbt003}, author = {Evangelia E Antoniou and Ambarish Dutta and Kenneth M. Langa and David Melzer and David J Llewellyn} } @article {7840, title = {What do parents have to do with my cognitive reserve? Life course perspectives on twelve-year cognitive decline.}, journal = {Neuroepidemiology}, volume = {41}, year = {2013}, month = {2013}, pages = {101-9}, publisher = {41}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine the cognitive reserve hypothesis by comparing the contribution of early childhood and life course factors related to cognitive functioning in a nationally representative sample of older Americans.

METHODS: We examined a prospective, national probability cohort study (Health and Retirement Study; 1998-2010) of older adults (n=8,833) in the contiguous 48 United States. The main cognitive functioning outcome was a 35-point composite of memory (recall), mental status, and working memory tests. The main predictors were childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and health, and individual-level adult achievement and health.

RESULTS: Individual-level achievement indicators (i.e., education, income, and wealth) were positively and significantly associated with baseline cognitive function, while adult health was negatively associated with cognitive function. Controlling for individual-level adult achievement and other model covariates, childhood health presented a relatively small negative, but statistically significant association with initial cognitive function. Neither individual achievement nor childhood SEP was statistically linked to decline over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive reserve purportedly acquired through learning and mental stimulation across the life course was associated with higher initial global cognitive functioning over the 12-year period in this nationally representative study of older Americans. We found little supporting evidence that childhood economic conditions were negatively associated with cognitive function and change, particularly when individual-level achievement is considered.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition Disorders, Cognitive Reserve, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Longevity, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Parents, Prospective Studies, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1423-0208}, doi = {10.1159/000350723}, author = {Hector M Gonz{\'a}lez and Wassim Tarraf and Mary E Bowen and Michelle D Johnson-Jennings and Gwenith G Fisher} } @article {7780, title = {Stability and change in financial transfers from adult children to older parents.}, journal = {Can J Aging}, volume = {31}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {367-78}, publisher = {31}, abstract = {

We sought to identify the extent and predictors of longitudinal changes in adult children{\textquoteright}s financial assistance to parents and in transfer networks over a two-year period. Analyses rely on pooled data from 1994 to 2000 of the Health and Retirement Study, using families in which adult children with no more than four siblings financially supported parents over two years. Change in the help network occurred in about 40 per cent of these families over the two-year period. When change occurred, it most commonly involved cessation of support by a child, followed by addition of another child to the network, whereas exchange of supporting children was relatively rare. Change reflected children{\textquoteright}s ability to provide care and the burden created by parents{\textquoteright} needs. However, the size and composition of the adult-child network and of the initial support group also played an important role. Results highlight the dynamic and systemic nature of intergenerational financial networks.

}, keywords = {Adult children, Aged, Female, Financial Support, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Parent-Child Relations, Parents}, issn = {1710-1107}, doi = {10.1017/S0714980812000372}, author = {Maximiliane E Szinovacz and Adam Davey} } @article {7316, title = {Parental education and late-life dementia in the United States.}, journal = {J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol}, volume = {22}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar}, pages = {71-80}, publisher = {22}, abstract = {

We investigated the relation between parental education and dementia in the United States. Participants in the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study were included, with information regarding parental education obtained from the Health and Retirement Study. The odds of dementia in elderly Americans whose mothers had less then 8 years of schooling were twice (95\% CI, 1.1-3.8) that of individuals with higher maternal education, when adjusted for paternal education. Of elderly Americans with less educated mothers, 45.4\% (95\% CI, 37.4-53.4\%) were diagnosed with dementia or ;;cognitive impairment, no dementia{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} compared to 31.2\% (95\% CI, 25.0-37.4\%) of elderly Americans whose mothers had at least an 8th grade education. The population attributable risk of dementia due to low maternal education was 18.8\% (95\% CI, 9.4-28.2\%). The education of girls in a population may be protective of dementia in the next generation.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Apolipoproteins E, Biomarkers, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Educational Status, Fathers, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mothers, Odds Ratio, Parents, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Racial Groups, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, United States}, issn = {0891-9887}, doi = {10.1177/0891988708328220}, author = {Mary A M Rogers and Brenda L Plassman and Mohammed U Kabeto and Gwenith G Fisher and John J McArdle and David J Llewellyn and Guy G Potter and Kenneth M. Langa} } @article {7236, title = {Parent caregiving choices of middle-generation Blacks and Whites in the United States.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {20}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Aug}, pages = {560-82}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This study compares how middle-generation caregivers and non-caregivers differ by race and explores racial differences in activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and financial assistance that middle-generation caregivers provide for their parents.

METHOD: Using 2000 Health and Retirement Study data, racially stratified descriptive analyses and logistic regression models for ADL, IADL, and financial assistance are presented.

RESULTS: Parental need and race influence support, with similar patterns of Black and White ADL support, but racial differences in IADL and financial support. Having more children motivates Whites to increase IADL support and reduce financial support; more children decreases Blacks{\textquoteright} IADL support. Sibling caregiver networks influence IADL and financial support in ways that vary by race. The number employed is a key determinant for Blacks for all support, but only influences White ADL support.

DISCUSSION: The findings of this article indicate the importance of sample stratification by race and that employment or other subsidies may aid the expansion of caregiving by middle-generation adults.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Black People, Caregivers, Employment, Family Characteristics, Financial Support, Humans, Intergenerational Relations, Logistic Models, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Siblings, Socioeconomic factors, United States, White People}, issn = {0898-2643}, doi = {10.1177/0898264308317576}, author = {Shelley I. White-Means and Rose M. Rubin} } @article {7021, title = {Health and living arrangements among older Americans: does marriage matter?}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {17}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jun}, pages = {305-35}, publisher = {17}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This research examines how physical and mental health influence living arrangements among older Americans and whether these effects differ for married and unmarried persons.

METHODS: Data came from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old study. These two intervals were pooled, and hierarchical multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyze pooled time lags.

RESULTS: Functional status and cognitive functioning are significantly associated with living arrangements among those not married. Health conditions exert no significant effects among those married. Given the same functional status, unmarried elders are significantly more likely than their married counterparts to reside with their children or with others.

DISCUSSION: These results underscore the critical role of the spouse in influencing living arrangements, providing new evidence supporting the assertion that a spouse is the greatest guarantee of support in old age and the importance of the marriage institution.

}, keywords = {Adult children, Aged, Demography, Health Status, Humans, Institutionalization, Marital Status, Marriage, Mental Health, Parents, Residence Characteristics, Social Support, Socioeconomic factors, Spouses, United States}, issn = {0898-2643}, doi = {10.1177/0898264305276300}, author = {Jersey Liang and Brown, Joseph W. and Krause, Neal M. and Mary Beth Ofstedal and Joan M. Bennett} } @article {6819, title = {Upstream Intergenerational Transfers}, journal = {Southern Economic Journal}, volume = {69}, year = {2002}, pages = {363-80}, publisher = {69}, abstract = {This study analyzes upstream intergenerational transfers from middle-aged children to their elderly parents. We formulate a model in which the middle-aged child transfers both money and time to an elderly parent based on an altruistic motive. We examine substitution between financial transfers and time transfers using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Empirical results support the assumption that upstream transfers are motivated by altruism, particularly financial transfers. Parents financially worse off than their middle-aged children receive more money. They are more likely to live nearby if not coresident. Overall, the results for time transfers provide weaker support for our model than financial transfers. A child with a high wage tends to transfer money rather than time, suggesting that the two types of transfers are partial substitutes. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.}, keywords = {Altruism, Error rates, Expected values, Nursing homes, Older Adults, Parents, Siblings, Standard of living, Wage rate}, doi = {10.2307/1061677}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Zhang, Harold H. and Wang, Jingshu} } @article {6626, title = {Parental marital disruption and intergenerational transfers: an analysis of lone elderly parents and their children.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {36}, year = {1999}, note = {ProCite field 3 : Johns Hopkins U; Agency for Health Care Policy and Research}, month = {1999 Aug}, pages = {287-97}, publisher = {36}, abstract = {

Although one of the most marked demographic trends observed over the twentieth century is the increased rate of divorce, relatively little research has explored the effects of these changing marital patterns in the context of an aging society. Using a sample of lone elderly parents and their adult children, we analyze the direct and indirect effects of marital disruption on four important dimensions of intergenerational transfers: coresidence, financial assistance, adult children{\textquoteright}s provision of informal care, and parental purchase of paid care. Our findings suggest that divorce has deleterious effects on intergenerational transfers, particularly for elderly fathers. Remarriage further reduces exchange. Our results reveal that parents engage in lower levels of transfers with stepchildren relative to biological children. Moreover, intergenerational transfers are sensitive to characteristics of biological children but not to those of stepchildren. Taken together, these results suggest that exchange at the end of the life course continues to be adversely affected by marital disruption.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Caregivers, Chi-Square Distribution, Divorce, Family, Father-Child Relations, Female, Financial Support, Frail Elderly, Home Nursing, Humans, Intergenerational Relations, Loneliness, Male, Marriage, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Sample Size, Sampling Studies, Socioeconomic factors}, issn = {0070-3370}, author = {Liliana E Pezzin and Barbara Steinberg Schone} }