Abstract
The concept of filial maturity has often been utilized to describe the nature and quality of the adult parent-child relationship. This paper will critically evaluate filial maturity as a central construct for understanding filial relations, present a reconceptualization of the concept, and identify areas for further empirical and conceptual elaboration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allport, G. W. (1961).Pattern and growth in personality. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Barnett, R. C., Kibria, N., & Pleck, J. H. (1988).Quality of adult daughters' relationships with their mothers and fathers: Effects on daughters' well-being and psychological distress (Working Paper No. 175). Wellesley, MA: Wellesley College, Center for Research on Women.
Baruch, G., & Barnett, R. C. (1983). Adult daughters' relationships with their mothers.Journal of Marriage and Family, 45, 601–606.
Bengtson, V., & Black, K. (1973). Intergenerational relations and continuities in socialization. In P. B. Baltes & K. W. Schaie (Eds.),Life-span developmental psychology: Personality and socialization (pp. 208–234). New York: Academic Press.
Blenkner, M. (1965). Social work and family relationships in later life with some thoughts on filial maturity. In E. Shanas & G. Strieb (Eds.),Social structure and the family. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Blieszner, R., & Mancini, J. A. (1987). Enduring ties: Older adults' parental role and responsibilities.Family Relations, 36, 176–180.
Borland, D. C. (1982). A cohort analysis approach to the emptynest syndrome among three ethnic groups of women: A theoretical position.Journal of Marriage and Family, 44, 117–129.
Boszormenyi-Nagi, I., & Spark, G. (1973).Invisible loyalties: Reciprocity in intergenerational family therapy. New York: Harper and Row.
Bowen, M. (1977). A systems view of the aging process.The Georgetown Medical Bulletin, 30, 6–14.
Bowlby, J. (1980).Attachment and loss. Vol. III: Loss, sadness and depression. New York: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (1979).The making and breaking of affectional bonds. New York: Tavistock.
Bray, J. H., Harvey, D. M., & Williamson, D. S. (1987). Intergenerational family relationships: An evaluation of theory and measurement.Psychotherapy, 24, 516–528.
Brody, E. M. (1985). Parent care as a normative family stress.The Gerontologist, 25, 19–29.
Brody, E. M. (1990). Role reversal: An inaccurate and destructive concept.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 15, 15–22.
Brody, E. M., Johnsen, P. T., & Fulcomer, M. C. (1984). What should adult children do for elderly parents? Opinions and preferences of three generations of women.Journal of Gerontology, 39, 736–746.
Brubaker, T. H. (1990). Families in later life: A burgeoning research area.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 959–981.
Cicirelli, V. G. (1988). A measure of filial anxiety regarding anticipated care of elderly parents.The Gerontologist, 28, 478–482.
Cohler, B. J. (1980).Autonomy and interdependence in the family of adulthood: A psychological perspective. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Diego.
Cohler, B. J., & Scott, F. M. (1987). Separation, interdependence, and social relations across the second half of life. In J. Bloom-Feshback, S. Bloom-Feshback, & Associates (Eds.),The psychology of separation and loss. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Damon, W. (1983).Social and personality development: Infancy through adolescence. New York: W. W. Norton.
Dowd, J. J., & LaRossa, R. (1982). Primary group contact and elderly morale: An exchange/power analysis.Sociology and Social Research, 66, 184–197.
Erikson, E. H. (1959).Identity and the life cycle. New York: International Universities Press.
Farkas, J. I., & Hogan, D. P. (1995). The demography of changing intergenerational relationships. In V. L. Bengtson, K. W. Schaie, & L. M. Burton (Eds.),Adult intergenerational relations: Effects of social change. New York: Springer.
Frank, S. J., Avery, C. B., & Laman, M. S. (1988). Young adults' perceptions of their relationships with their parents: Individual differences in connectedness, competence, and emotional autonomy.Developmental Psychology, 24, 729–737.
Gesser, G., Marshall, V., & Rosenthal, C. (1985, October).Developmental stake and the perception of intergenerational solidarity in the older family context: The extended generational stake hypothesis. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Hamilton, Ontario.
Giarrusso, R., Stallings, M., & Bengtson, V. L. (1995). The “intergenerational stake” hypothesis revisited: Parent-child differences in perceptions of relationships 20 years later. In V. L. Bengtson, K. W. Schaie, & L. M. Burton (Eds.),Adult intergenerational relations: Effects of social change. New York: Springer.
Gough, H. G. (1987).Manual for the California Psychological Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Gurland, B. (1990). Symposium on role reversal: A discussant responds.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 15, 35–38.
Hagestad, G. O. (1988). Demographic change and the life course: some emerging trends in the family realm.Family Relations, 37, 405–410.
Hanson, S. L., Sauer, W. J., & Seelbach, W. C. Racial and cohort variations in filial responsibility norms.The Gerontologist, 23, 626–631.
Harootyan, R. A., & Vorek, R. E. (1994). Volunteering, helping and gift giving in families and communities. In V. L. Bengtson & R. A. Harootyan (Eds.),Intergenerational linkages: Hidden connections in American society. New York: Springer.
Hazen, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511–524.
Himes, C. L. (1992). Future caregivers: Projected family structure of older persons.Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 47, S17-S26.
Horowitz, A., & Shindelman, L. W. (1983). Reciprocity and affection: Past influences on current caregiving.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 5, 5–20.
Hoyert, D. L. (1991). Financial and household exchanges between generations.Research on Aging, 13, 205–225.
Jahoda, M. (1950). Toward a social psychology of mental health. In J. E. Senn (Ed.),Symposium on the healthy personality. New York: Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.
Jarvik, L. F. (1990). Role reversal: Implications for therapeutic intervention.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 15, 23–34.
Josselson, R. (1980). Ego development in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.),Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 188–210). New York: Wiley.
Josselson, R. (1992).The space between us: exploring the dimensions of human relationships. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass Publishers.
Kegan, R. G. (1982).The evolving self: Problem and process of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Kivett, V. R., & Atkinson, M. P. (1984). Filial expectations, association, and helping as a function of number of children among rural-transitional parents.Journal of Gerontology 39, 499–503.
Kronebusch, K., & Schlesinger, M. (1994). Intergenerational transfers. In V. L. Bengtson & R. A. Harootyan (Eds.),Intergenerational linkages: Hidden connections in American society. New York: Springer.
Lawton, L., Silverstein, M., & Bengtson, V. L. (1994). Solidarity between generations in families. In V. L. Bengtson & R. A. Harootyan (Eds.),Intergenerational linkages: Hidden connections in American society. New York: Springer.
Lee, G. R., & Ellithorpe, E. (1982). Intergenerational exchange and subjective well-being among the elderly.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 217–224.
Levinson, D. J., Darrow, C. N., Klein, E. B., Levinson, M. H., & McKee, B. (1979).The seasons of a man's life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Loevinger, J. (1976).Ego development: Conceptions and theories. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Lowy, L. (1989). Independence and dependence in aging: A new balance.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 13, 133–146.
Mancini, J. A. (1979). Family relationships and morale among people 65 and older.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 49, 292–300.
Mancini, J. A., & Blieszner, R. (1986, November).Successful aging and close relationships with children. Paper presented at the 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Chicago.
Mancini, J. A., & Blieszner, R. (1989). Aging parents and adult children: Research themes in intergenerational relations.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 275–290.
Neugarten, B. L. (1986).Age and aging. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Quinn, W. H. (1983). Personal and family adjustment in later life.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45, 57–73.
Richards, L., Bengtson, V., & Miller, R. (1989). The “generation in the middle”: Perceptions of adults' intergenerational relationships. In K. Kreppner & R. M. Lerner (Eds.),Family systems and life-span development. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Ryff, C. D. (1986, November).The failure of successful aging research. Paper presented at the Meeting of the Gerontological Society, Chicago.
Schaie, K. W., & Willis, S. L. (1995). Perceived family environments across generations. In V. L. Bengtson, K. W. Schaie, & L. M. Burton (Eds.),Adult intergenerational relations: Effects of social change. New York: Springer.
Scharlach, A. E. (1987). Role strain in mother-daughter relationships in later life.The Gerontologist, 27, 627–631.
Scharlach, A. E. (1991). Factors associated with filial grief following the death of an elderly parent.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61, 307–313.
Schorr, A. (1960).Filial responsibility in the modern American family (Publication of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Seelbach, W. C. (1984). Filial responsibility and the care of aging family members. In W. H. Quinn & G. A. Hughston (Eds.),Independent aging: Family and social systems perspectives. Rockville, MD: Aspen Publications.
Selman, R. L. (1980).The growth of interpersonal understanding: Development and clinical analyses. San Francisco: Academic Press.
Seltzer, M. M. (1990). Role reversal: You don't go home again.Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 15, 5–14.
Shanas, E. (1979). social myth as hypothesis: The case of the family relations of old people.The Gerontologist, 19, 3–9.
Silverstein, M., & Bengtson, V. (1991). Do close parent-child relations reduce the mortality risk of older parents? A test of the direct and buffering effects of intergenerational affection.The Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32, 382–395.
Souvaine, E., Lahey, L., & Kegan, R. (1990). Life after formal operations: Implications for a psychology of the self. In C. N. Alexander & E. J. Langer (Eds.),Higher stages of human development. New York: Oxford University Press.
Steindel, C., & Rabin, A. (1982).Attachment and well-being in middle-aged daughters and their mothers. Paper presented at the Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston.
Walker, A., Martin, S. S. K., & Jones, L. L. (1992). The benefits and costs of caregiving and care receiving for daughters and mothers.Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 47, S130-S139.
Weishaus, S. (1980, November).Determinants of affect of middle-aged women toward their mothers. Paper presented at the Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Diego.
Whitbourne, S. K. (1986).The me I know: A study of adult identity. New York: Springer Verlag.
Williamson, D. (1981). Personal authority via termination of the intergenerational hierarchical boundary: A “new” stage in the family life cycle.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 441–452
Williamson, D. (1983). The family's bloodless revolution: Personal authority and personal reality in the family of origin.Family Therapy Networker, 7, 29–63.
Youniss, J., & Smollar J. (1985).Adolescent relations with mothers, fathers, and friends. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fredriksen, K.I., Scharlach, A.E. Filial maturity: Analysis and reconceptualization. J Adult Dev 3, 183–191 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02285778
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02285778