Isabelle Albert

Intergenerational Support and Life Satisfaction: A Comparison of Chinese, Indonesian, and German Elderly Mothers

The exchange of support between generations is a fundamental feature of intergenerational relationships. Although most studies have concentrated on the impact of social support on the receiver, effects on subjective well-being of the provider of support have been studied less often. Given cultural differences in the norms and values of intergenerational relationships, the present study compared samples from rural and urban China, Indonesia, and Germany. The results showed that in the different cultural contexts elderly mothers’ well-being was differently related to help that they provided to their adult daughters. The results are discussed from a culture-informed perspective on intergenerational relationships.

The Role of Culture in Social Development Over the Life Span : An Interpersonal Relations Approach

This article aims to illustrate the role of culture for individual development throughout the life span. First, theoretical approaches how culture affects the ontogenesis is presented, starting from early anthropological to recent eco-cultural and culture-informed approaches. Then, culture-specific conceptualizations of development over the life span are discussed, focusing on development in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Finally, we concentrate on selected areas of social development and report on recent studies on subjective theories, transmissions of values, and intergenerational relations. These studies are discussed as aspects of a more extended interpersonal relations approach to development within culture. Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. This article is available in Online Readings in Psychology and Culture: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol6/iss2/1

Family Cultures in The Context of Migration and Ageing

Intergenerational family relations are embedded in family cultures which influence how families regulate their relations over the whole life span with regard to key issues, such as autonomy and relatedness, or support exchange and reciprocity, and which may vary inter- and intraculturally. Migrant families undoubtedly face a special situation as values and expectations from the culture of origin and from the host cultural context might differ. Not much is known yet about how migrant families adapt their family cultures to the host cultural context. The present article will focus on aspects of intergenerational family regulation by taking into account family cultures of migrant compared to non-migrant families in a life span perspective. We will illustrate our theoretical outline by presenting first results from the IRMA-study comparing Luxembourgish and Portuguese immigrant families living in Luxembourg. We focus on issues of family cohesion, enmeshment and normative expectations regarding adult children’s support for their ageing parents, by drawing both on quantitative questionnaire as well as qualitative interview data. Implications for the experience of ambivalence and conflicts as well as well-being of family members from both generations will be discussed.

Emotional Relations With Grandparents and Received Support: The Adolescent View

Following concepts of solidarity and intergenerational ambivalence, the present study focuses on the perspectives of high school students (N = 155) aged 12 to 21 to describe their relationships to maternal and paternal grandparents with respect to (a) emotional quality and (b) grandparental support. Based on the frequency of positive and negative emotions, a classification approach is adopted to determine patterns of relationship quality. Parental lineage differences are found with regard to size and profile of clusters. Cluster comparisons regarding appraisals of received grandparental support (emotional, instrumental, material) indicate that support is significantly diminished if relations become disharmonious or detached.

Kulturvergleich von Beziehungsqualität in Mehrgenerationenfamilien aus psychologischer Sicht

Aufgrund zunehmender Lebenserwartung gewinnen Generationenbeziehungen mehr und mehr an Bedeutung, und zwar unter soziologiseher aber aueh psyehologischer Perspektive. Die Aktualität des Themas hängt mit Problemen alternder Gesellsehaften zusammen. Die theoretische und sozialpolitische Bedeutung von Generationenbeziehungen hat Kohli schon früh antizipiert. Kohli und seine Schüler (Kohli 2004, 2005, KohlilKünemund 2003) haben mit ihren Studien, vor allem dem einflussreichen Alters-Survey, die empirischen Grundlagen rur eine differenzierte Analyse von Generationenbeziehungen in Deutschland gelegt. Alternde Gesellschaften werden von einigen Forschern als ökonomische und sozialpolitische Belastung gesehen; sie lassen sich aber auch als Chancen ftir den Einzelnen sowie ftir Gesellschaften sehen. Am Beispiel der Generationenbeziehungen und ihrem Wandel in postmodernen westlichen Gesellschaften ist häufig die Auflösung der Familienbeziehung und die Vereinzelung insbesondere alternder Menschen diskutiert worden. Andere Autoren betonen hingegen die Teilhabe und Mitwirkung von Personen aller Altersgruppen an dem gesellschaftlichen Wandel und die Chance, in Generationenbeziehungen so zu investieren, dass gesellschaftliche Integration und Solidarität gefördert werden. Weiterhin werden ein starker Familienzusammenhalt und die integrierende Wirkung von familialen intergenerationalen Beziehungen betont (Bengtson 2001). Damit sind sowohl soziologische als auch psychologische Implikationen gegeben. Die Bedeutung von Generationenbeziehungen im Zusammenhang mit soziodemografischen Veränderungen wird jedoch in der Psychologie kaum untersucht. Soziostrukturelle und familientheoretische Aspekte von Generationenbeziehungen sind in der psychologischen Forschung kein Thema. Schon aus methodologischen Gründen ist es problematisch, die Aggregat-

Future plans and the regulation of well-being of older Portuguese immigrants in Luxembourg

Ageing and migration have become key issues in many European countries, as an unprecedented number of first generation immigrants are currently approaching retirement age. A permanent return to the country of origin seems to be enacted more seldom after retirement than initially envisaged, a phenomenon referred to as “myth of return”. Instead, a third alternative seems to gain interest for ageing migrants, namely commuting between host country and country of origin. The present paper addresses future plans regarding preferred country of residence after retirement and the regulation of well-being of middle-aged and older first generation immigrants. The sample included N = 109 Portuguese first generation immigrants (49.5% female; average age: M = 55.35, SD = 7.42) who had been living in Luxembourg for about M = 30.69 (SD = 8.55) years. Analyses show that only one-fifth of participants plan to return to Portugal, whereas almost one-half prefer to stay in Luxembourg, one-quarter choose to commute, the remainder still being undecided. No differences in life-satisfaction were found, but those who plan to return used fewer self-regulatory strategies compared to those who want to stay or commute; in the STAY group, positive reappraisal strategies were related most strongly to their life-satisfaction, whereas for those who plan to commute both primary and secondary control were beneficial. Interestingly, lowering aspirations was positively related with life-satisfaction for those who plan to return to their country of origin after retirement. Results are discussed taking into consideration aspects of integration and migration experiences over the life-span.

Migrating Identities: Affective Dialogues Across Generations

Dialogical Self Theory recognizes the interaction between self and others. The basic nature of human condition is indeed to be in indefinite and constant interdependence with the existence of “the other” and his experiences, thoughts, practices as well as his narrations. Yet, the character and degree of these interdependencies vary and fluctuate depending on the individuals, contexts and cultures. While the external dialogue occurs between people implicated in an overt interaction, the self happens in an individual’s mind as an internal dialogue. Individuals make sense of their lives through the narratives of crucial experiences in their lives, which makes the external dialogue discernible and easier to analyse compared to the internal dialogue not that easily tangible. Though, through an intergenerational interview between an adult daughter and her mother, we will try to assess and identify their individual internal dialogues within their narratives. Hence, to that end body language and behavioural indicators such as face expressions or silent thinking will be used, which may help and serve as guidelines to assess the intergenerational dialogical interaction between mother and adult child in a migrant context.

Intergenerational relations in the light of migration and ageing

Background: Many psycho-oncology studies use posttraumatic growth (PTG) measures designed for general trauma experiences, and as such they may not take into account life changes associated with a health-related context. Method: Study 1, a thematic analysis of written narratives (N = 209), emphasised cancer survivors’ newfound compassion. Study 2, with 504 prostate cancer survivors, measured the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory including five additional items derived from Study 1 to represent increased compassion. Findings: A Principal Components Analysis revealed a six-component structure after deleting eight items. Components related to compassion, new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Compassion accounted for 48.9% of variance, with the overall model accounting for 79.9% of variance. Strong factorability, internal consistency, and convergent validity were demonstrated. Discussion: The salience of newfound compassion after cancer was demonstrated. This research has important implications for accurately assessing the post-diagnosis trajectory of adjustment after cancer.Special Issue: Abstracts supplement: “Well-being, quality of life and caregiving” : 27th Conference of the European health psychology society, Bordeaux, France, 16th – 20th July 2013Background: Self-affirmation (i.e., focusing on a valued aspect of the self-concept) can promote health behaviour change. This study aimed to see if self-affirmation increased physical activity (PA) regardless of threat level presented in health messages. Methods: Sixty-eight participants were randomly allocated to condition in a 2 (self-affirmation, no affirmation) x 2 (high threat, low threat) between-participants design. Participants completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire at baseline and one week later to assess PA. Findings: A two-way ANCOVA with affirmation condition and threat level as predictor variables, controlling for baseline PA, was performed on follow up PA. Baseline PA was a significant predictor (F(1,63) = 399.63, p<0.001) and the main effect of affirmation condition approached significance (F(1,63) = 3.55, p=0.06). There were no other significant effects. Discussion: This study provides further evidence that self-affirmation can increase PA, but found no interaction between self-affirmation and threat level presented in health messages.Background: Contemporary alcohol research suggests that implicit attitudes are important predictors of drinking behaviour and there is growing interest surrounding factors influencing them. Research suggests that evaluative conditioning (EC) influences implicit attitudes and at a population level the most obvious and prolific use of EC is advertising. Methods: Participants (n= 51, mean age= 22.43) completed alcohol- and chocolate-related Implicit Association Tests (IAT) before viewing an advertisement for either chocolate or beer. Participants then completed post-test IATs before being provided with chocolate and beer products and asked to consume as much as they wanted. Findings: Viewing a beer advertisement produced a significant positive shift in alcohol-related implicit attitudes from pre- to post-test. No other significant effects on implicit attitudes or behaviour were found. Discussion: Alcohol advertisements are effective in changing alcohol-related implicit attitudes; however the influence on behaviour requires further investigation. Implications for the manipulation of alcohol-related implicit attitudes are discussed.Background: Recent research has highlighted the importance of automatic processes in predicting impulsive health risk behaviour. This has led to the creation of health behaviour models such as the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) which take into account dual processes when predicting health behaviour. The current research argues that individuals are more likely to engage in impulsive drinking behaviour on a weekend as opposed to a weekday as there are fewer constraints placed upon drinking behaviour. Methods: Participants (n= 61, mean age= 22) completed an alcohol Implicit Association Test as well as a questionnaire assessing variables on the PWM and drinking behaviour. Findings: More positive alcohol-related automatic cognitions were significantly related to increased levels of both frequency and quantity of self-reported weekend drinking behaviour but were not significantly related to weekday drinking behaviour. Discussion: Automatic processes successfully predicted drinking behaviour when there were fewer constraints placed upon individuals.Background: The Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) suggests that there are two separate antecedents to behaviour: intention and willingness. Whereas intention is suggested to be rational and deliberative, willingness is more automatic and impulsive. The current study used a cross-cultural sample in order to examine the differing predictive power of the PWM for drinking behaviour. Methods: A sample of 193 individuals from Australia (n=108) and Singapore (n=85) completed a questionnaire measuring alcohol consumption and variables on the PWM. Findings: Willingness to drink significantly predicted alcohol consumption in Singaporeans. Both willingness and intention to drink significantly predicted frequency of alcohol consumption Discussion: The antecedents of the PWM differentially predict alcohol consumption in culturally different samples. Implications for health interventions aimed to reduce drinking across cultures are discussed.Background. Parenting has been associated with child weight status. This study aims to evaluate the effects on parenting skills and BMI-SDS of the BBOFT+ overweight prevention program, compared to care-as-usual (CAU). Method. In a cluster-randomized trial, 2500 parents participated. Parent-reported weight and length were used. Parenting was measured with subscales control and reinforcement of the parenting strategies for eating and activity scale (PEAS) and the warmth subscale from the Child Rearing Questionnaire. Results. The first univariate analyses show that at age 15 months, no statistically significant differences in BMI- SDS, parental control, reinforcement or warmth were found between the BBOFT+ and the CAU group. Further cluster analyses need to be conducted. Results from age 36 months will be presented during the conference, which will include all subscales of the PEAS and an assessment of parenting styles. Conclusion. The intervention does not seem to have an effect on BMI-SDS or parenting.Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.

Attitudes towards ageing in elder care

Background: Many psycho-oncology studies use posttraumatic growth (PTG) measures designed for general trauma experiences, and as such they may not take into account life changes associated with a health-related context. Method: Study 1, a thematic analysis of written narratives (N = 209), emphasised cancer survivors’ newfound compassion. Study 2, with 504 prostate cancer survivors, measured the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory including five additional items derived from Study 1 to represent increased compassion. Findings: A Principal Components Analysis revealed a six-component structure after deleting eight items. Components related to compassion, new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Compassion accounted for 48.9% of variance, with the overall model accounting for 79.9% of variance. Strong factorability, internal consistency, and convergent validity were demonstrated. Discussion: The salience of newfound compassion after cancer was demonstrated. This research has important implications for accurately assessing the post-diagnosis trajectory of adjustment after cancer.Special Issue: Abstracts supplement: “Well-being, quality of life and caregiving” : 27th Conference of the European health psychology society, Bordeaux, France, 16th – 20th July 2013Background: Self-affirmation (i.e., focusing on a valued aspect of the self-concept) can promote health behaviour change. This study aimed to see if self-affirmation increased physical activity (PA) regardless of threat level presented in health messages. Methods: Sixty-eight participants were randomly allocated to condition in a 2 (self-affirmation, no affirmation) x 2 (high threat, low threat) between-participants design. Participants completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire at baseline and one week later to assess PA. Findings: A two-way ANCOVA with affirmation condition and threat level as predictor variables, controlling for baseline PA, was performed on follow up PA. Baseline PA was a significant predictor (F(1,63) = 399.63, p<0.001) and the main effect of affirmation condition approached significance (F(1,63) = 3.55, p=0.06). There were no other significant effects. Discussion: This study provides further evidence that self-affirmation can increase PA, but found no interaction between self-affirmation and threat level presented in health messages.Background: Contemporary alcohol research suggests that implicit attitudes are important predictors of drinking behaviour and there is growing interest surrounding factors influencing them. Research suggests that evaluative conditioning (EC) influences implicit attitudes and at a population level the most obvious and prolific use of EC is advertising. Methods: Participants (n= 51, mean age= 22.43) completed alcohol- and chocolate-related Implicit Association Tests (IAT) before viewing an advertisement for either chocolate or beer. Participants then completed post-test IATs before being provided with chocolate and beer products and asked to consume as much as they wanted. Findings: Viewing a beer advertisement produced a significant positive shift in alcohol-related implicit attitudes from pre- to post-test. No other significant effects on implicit attitudes or behaviour were found. Discussion: Alcohol advertisements are effective in changing alcohol-related implicit attitudes; however the influence on behaviour requires further investigation. Implications for the manipulation of alcohol-related implicit attitudes are discussed.Background: Recent research has highlighted the importance of automatic processes in predicting impulsive health risk behaviour. This has led to the creation of health behaviour models such as the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) which take into account dual processes when predicting health behaviour. The current research argues that individuals are more likely to engage in impulsive drinking behaviour on a weekend as opposed to a weekday as there are fewer constraints placed upon drinking behaviour. Methods: Participants (n= 61, mean age= 22) completed an alcohol Implicit Association Test as well as a questionnaire assessing variables on the PWM and drinking behaviour. Findings: More positive alcohol-related automatic cognitions were significantly related to increased levels of both frequency and quantity of self-reported weekend drinking behaviour but were not significantly related to weekday drinking behaviour. Discussion: Automatic processes successfully predicted drinking behaviour when there were fewer constraints placed upon individuals.Background: The Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) suggests that there are two separate antecedents to behaviour: intention and willingness. Whereas intention is suggested to be rational and deliberative, willingness is more automatic and impulsive. The current study used a cross-cultural sample in order to examine the differing predictive power of the PWM for drinking behaviour. Methods: A sample of 193 individuals from Australia (n=108) and Singapore (n=85) completed a questionnaire measuring alcohol consumption and variables on the PWM. Findings: Willingness to drink significantly predicted alcohol consumption in Singaporeans. Both willingness and intention to drink significantly predicted frequency of alcohol consumption Discussion: The antecedents of the PWM differentially predict alcohol consumption in culturally different samples. Implications for health interventions aimed to reduce drinking across cultures are discussed.Background. Parenting has been associated with child weight status. This study aims to evaluate the effects on parenting skills and BMI-SDS of the BBOFT+ overweight prevention program, compared to care-as-usual (CAU). Method. In a cluster-randomized trial, 2500 parents participated. Parent-reported weight and length were used. Parenting was measured with subscales control and reinforcement of the parenting strategies for eating and activity scale (PEAS) and the warmth subscale from the Child Rearing Questionnaire. Results. The first univariate analyses show that at age 15 months, no statistically significant differences in BMI- SDS, parental control, reinforcement or warmth were found between the BBOFT+ and the CAU group. Further cluster analyses need to be conducted. Results from age 36 months will be presented during the conference, which will include all subscales of the PEAS and an assessment of parenting styles. Conclusion. The intervention does not seem to have an effect on BMI-SDS or parenting.Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.