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Intergenerational Relations in Later-Life Families

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Handbook of Sociology of Aging

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

Relations between the generations have been a central feature in literature and popular culture throughout recorded history. The dramatic increase in life expectancy across the last century, combined with more recent changes in divorce, child-bearing, and women’s employment, has challenged old assumptions and created new inquiries into intergenerational relations in later life. Thus, it is not surprising that the study of these relations in the later years has grown exponentially across the last three decades as scholars have rushed to identify and explain these new patterns of relations and their consequences on family members.

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Acknowledgment

This project was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (RO1 AG18869-01; 2RO1 AG18869-04), J. Jill Suitor and Karl Pillemer, Co-Principal Investigators. Karl Pillemer also acknowledges support from an Edward R. Roybal Center grant from the National Institute on Aging (1 P50 AG11711-01). Megan Gilligan and Jill Suitor also wish to acknowledge support from an NIH Pre-Doctoral Training Grant awarded to the Center on Aging and the Life Course at Purdue University (Kenneth Ferraro, Principal Investigator, T32AG025671).We would like to thank Abigail Howard, Seoyoun Kim, and Michael Steinhour for their assistance in the preparation of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    J. Jill Suitor

  2. Department of human Development Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Karl Pillemer

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  1. J. Jill Suitor
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  2. Jori Sechrist
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  3. Megan Gilligan
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  4. Karl Pillemer
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Correspondence to J. Jill Suitor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331-2302, Oregon, USA

    Richard A. Settersten

  2. Dept. Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, University Station 1, Austin, 78712, Texas, USA

    Jacqueline L. Angel

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Suitor, J.J., Sechrist, J., Gilligan, M., Pillemer, K. (2011). Intergenerational Relations in Later-Life Families. In: Settersten, R., Angel, J. (eds) Handbook of Sociology of Aging. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7374-0_11

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