Anja Steinbach

Divergent perceptions of intergenerational relationships: what implications, if any?

ABSTRACT People involved in a shared social relationship may perceive their relationship differently. The intergenerational stake hypothesis posits differences in reports of parents and adult children on emotional closeness and conflict; empirical studies have also found different reports on the exchange of support. These findings are tested by looking at assessments of different dimensions of the parent–child relation. Data were drawn from the 2009to 2010 wave of the German Family Panel (pairfam) and include more than 4500 parent–child dyads. Some differences were found (parents reported higher emotional closeness and lower conflict), but does this mean that all empirical studies of intergenerational relationships are potentially biased if they use data from only one generation? Using pairfam data, we show that no great statistical bias is introduced when data from one, not both generations are used. Thus, data from one side of the parent–child dyad are sufficient for most research into intergenerational relations.

Full-, Half-, and Step-Sibling Relations in Young and Middle Adulthood:

This study investigated relationships of full-, half-, and step-siblings in young and middle adulthood with a focus on frequency of contact, emotional closeness, and conflict. We distinguish full-siblings whose parents still live together as a couple (Type 1) from those whose parents separated or died (Type 2). Based on data from Wave 5 of the German Family Panel (pairfam), we analyzed 8,920 reports from 5,482 respondents representative of three birth cohorts (1991-1993, 1981-1983, and 1971-1973) about their relationships with up to four siblings. Hierarchical linear regression results provided general support for the assumption that although full-siblings of Types 1 and 2 had more contact and felt closer to one another than half-siblings and step-siblings, they also had more conflicts. With one exception (closeness among half-siblings), the results remained stable after controlling for respondent, sibling, and sibling structure characteristics.

Diversität von Familie in Deutschland

Familien in Deutschland haben vielfaltige Erscheinungsformen. Fur eine Analyse der Diversitat von Familie gilt es entsprechend zunachst den Familienbegriff abzugrenzen. Auffallig ist, dass es keine einheitliche Definition des Begriffs „Familie“ gibt (Nave-Herz 2013, S. 34; Trager 2009, S. 18). Verschiedene Begriffsklarungen weisen jedoch eine Uberschneidung hinsichtlich der Reproduktions- und Sozialisationsfunktion von Familie auf (Hill und Kopp 2013; Huinink und Konietzka 2007; Marbach 2008; Trager 2009). Dies bedeutet, dass innerhalb einer Familie mindestens ein Kind vorhanden und damit eine Elternschaftsbeziehung vorliegen muss. Damit ist gleichzeitig das Merkmal der Generationendifferenzierung innerhalb von Familien erfullt.

The prevalence of single-parent families and stepfamilies in Europe: can the Hajnal line help us to describe regional patterns?

Abstract The study’s main objective is to gauge the prevalence of family forms following separation and divorce in Europe. In addition to the comparison of the prevalence of single-parent families and stepfamilies in Europe based on data of the ‘Generations and Gender Program’ (GGP), family patterns which draw on marriage and divorce rates on the one hand, and on the incidence of single parenthood and stepfamilies on the other hand are investigated. Data are available for 17 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Sweden) and include a total of 58,336 family households with minor children. The analysis first presents descriptive statistics allowing comparisons of the prevalence of single-parent families and stepfamilies. Secondly, a cluster analysis was carried out to identify family patterns around Europe and to answer the question, whether the Hajnal line can help us to describe regional differences. By taking marriage and divorce rates as well as the prevalence of single parenthood and stepfamilies into account we were able to identify four clusters of family patterns, which give no support for Hajnal’s line anymore. Family patterns in Europe are quite complex and hard to systemize by an East–West divide.

Familiale Generationenbeziehungen aus bevölkerungssoziologischer Perspektive

Der Fokus des vorliegenden Beitrags liegt auf den wechselseitigen Einflussen zwischen familialen Generationenbeziehungen und den demographischen Kernprozessen Fertilitat und Nuptialitat, Mortalitat (einschlieslich Gesundheit) sowie Migration. Hierbei sind theoretisch jeweils zwei Wirkungsrichtungen denkbar: (1) Die Wirkung der spezifischen Ausgestaltung der Beziehungen zwischen Eltern und erwachsenen Kindern auf den demographischen Prozess und (2) die Wirkung des demographischen Prozesses auf die Ausgestaltung von familialen Generationenbeziehungen. Die Aufarbeitung des Forschungsstandes zeigt, dass es zwar in einigen Teilbereichen bereits eine umfangreiche Literatur gibt, dass aber noch nicht zu allen theoretisch denkbaren Zusammenhangen empirische Ergebnisse vorliegen. Von diesem Befund ausgehend, schliest der Beitrag mit einem Ausblick auf zukunftige Perspektiven familialer Generationenbeziehungen und deren Erforschung.

Families and Health: A Review

This review of research on the role of family relations in shaping individuals’ health (and vice versa) conceptualizes health as a multidimensional outcome with objective and subjective components. The family-health nexus is considered from the adult’s perspective (focusing on partnership and parenthood) as well as from the child’s perspective (focusing on the consequences of parental separation and divorce). We also review findings from research addressing the association of childhood circumstances and intergenerational relations with health. While our primary interest is on universal relationships between individuals’ family circumstances and different health outcomes, we particularly seek to include current European evidence. The evidence reviewed here suggests that family matters greatly—and in various ways—for individuals’ health across the entire life-course: from early childhood, through adulthood, to very old-age. We conclude with a brief outlook on directions for future research.

Intergenerational solidarity and intragenerational relations between adult siblings

Few studies have yet investigated how intergenerational solidarity between parents and adult children is associated with intragenerational relations between siblings. Theoretically, one might expect compensation between inter- and intragenerational relationship solidarity as well as spillover effects from parent-child solidarity to sibling solidarity. Using data from the German Family Panel (pairfam), this study analyzes 5410 interviews with young adults who provided detailed information on the relationships to their parents and up to four siblings. Focusing on four dimensions of relationships in families (contact, emotional closeness, intimacy, and conflict), hierarchical linear regression results provide general support for the assumption that inter- and intragenerational relations reinforce each other. We also find evidence for the existence of partially compensating relationships: more frequent intergenerational conflicts, for example, not only predict more frequent conflicts between siblings, but also greater intimacy. The results are in line with predictions derived from family systems theory as well as social learning and attachment theories.

Die Bildungsbeteiligung von Kindern aus Kern-, Eineltern- und Stieffamilien in Deutschland

In den letzten Jahrzehnten hat es einige Verschiebungen in den Anteilen der Familienformen in Deutschland gegeben (Klein 1999; Wagner und Valdes Cifuentes 2014). Dies ist neben der Zunahme an Nichtehelichen Lebensgemeinschaften insbesondere auf die Zunahme an Trennungen und Scheidungen zuruckzufuhren. Einelternund Stieff amilien machen entsprechend einen nicht mehr zu vernachlassigenden Anteil an allen Familienformen mit minderjahrigen Kindern in Deutschland aus: Je nach Datengrundlage entfallen auf diese beiden Familienformen jeweils 7 bis 17 Prozent (Kuhnt und Steinbach 2014, S. 53).

Vorwort der Herausgeber des Bandes „Familie im Fokus der Wissenschaft“

Die Familie ist ein Thema, welches in der Offentlichkeit wie auch in der Wissenschaft einen sehr hohen Stellenwert einnimmt. In Deutschland dominieren den Diskurs uber Familie derzeit insbesondere Diskussionen um die demographische Entwicklung und um die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf. Das Forschungsprogramm der Familienforschung umfasst jedoch deutlich mehr. Huinink (2006) unterscheidet hierbei drei grundlegende Perspektiven, die er auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen verortet: (1) Die gesellschaftliche Ebene, auf der Fragen von Familienstrukturen und ihrem Wandel im Mittelpunkt der Untersuchungen stehen. Dabei werden Veranderungen nicht nur beschrieben, sondern auch das Verhaltnis von Familienstrukturen und Sozialstruktur sowie die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Familie und anderen gesellschaftlichen Teilsystemen analysiert.

Explaining geographic concentrations of discrimination in Germany: small group interaction, youth and spatial context

Eastern Germans are often stereotyped as racist, and some empirical data as well as periodic incidences of violent hate crime seem to confirm the stereotype. This article offers a partial explanation of geographic concentrations of discrimination in Germany that centres on processes of boundary drawing in real contexts between small groups of youths. This is a meso-level approach that contrasts with macro- and micro-level sociological explanations of discrimination. We consider it more correct to say that conditions in much of eastern Germany – as well as in many parts of western Germany – are such that discrimination is more likely to occur within small groups in those places. Data are presented from 29 cities participating in an anti-racism programme that provide some insight into how boundaries are drawn and how some cities are currently attempting to reduce discriminatory behaviour within small groups. Knowledge about how group dynamics leads to discriminatory behaviour is particularly useful for those trying to prevent racism at the local level; intervention is more feasible at the small-group level due to their inherent visibility and accessibility for youth guidance counsellors.