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The Effect of Widowhood on Parent–Child Relationships in Korea: Do Parents’ Filial Expectations and Geographic Proximity to Children Matter?

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Abstract

Although previous research based on data from the U.S. suggests that parents’ widowhood is associated with increased emotional support from children, little is known about the impact of late-life widowhood on intergenerational relationships in other cultures. Using data of Korean older adults, this paper examined: (1) the effect of widowhood on both positive and negative aspects of parent–child relationships and (2) whether these effects are moderated by older adults’ expectations about children’s filial responsibilities and the geographic proximity to their children. Analyses are based on data from the Hallym Aging Study, a stratified multi-stage probability sample of older adults living in the cities of Seoul and Chuncheon in Korea. Compared to married older adults, widowed persons in this sample reported higher levels of ambivalence, lower levels of positive interactions, and higher levels of negative interactions with their children. Parents’ notion about filial responsibilities did not have a significant moderating effect, whereas geographic proximity to children was a significant moderator. Findings suggest that widowhood is associated with greater strain in intergenerational relationships in Korea. Helping widowed older adults forge constructive relationships with their children may enhance both bereaved older adults’ and their children’s well-being in this cultural milieu.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Berit Ingersoll-Dayton for her insightful comments. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the International Conference on Life and Humanity in Late Modern Transformation: Beyond East and West held at Seoul National University in May 2013.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University, Kwanak-Ro 1, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Jung-Hwa Ha & Sun-Young Heo

  2. Department of Social Welfare, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

    Hyunsook Yoon & Yeon Ok Lim

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  1. Jung-Hwa Ha
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  4. Sun-Young Heo
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Correspondence to Jung-Hwa Ha.

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Ha, JH., Yoon, H., Lim, Y.O. et al. The Effect of Widowhood on Parent–Child Relationships in Korea: Do Parents’ Filial Expectations and Geographic Proximity to Children Matter?. J Cross Cult Gerontol 31, 73–88 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9280-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9280-6

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