Face-to-face and mediated intergenerational family communication in European countries

This paper analyzes data from the European Social Survey (ESS), collected during the COVID-19 pandemic across 31 countries, to examine intergenerational family communication among individuals aged 45–54 with both their children and parents. We address two research questions: What similarities and differences emerge across European countries in terms of physical and emotional proximity and forms of intergenerational communication? Which mediated communication channels are most and least used with parents and children, and are there any gender differences? The ESS’s large-scale, nationally representative design enables nuanced gender-based and cross-country comparisons of face-to-face, telephone, audiovisual, and other digital interactions. Results show that, despite widespread digital device access, in-person and phone contacts remained preferred, while audiovisual modes were far less frequent. Gender differences in communication with children are minimal but more marked with parents. Country profiles largely converge, with the notable exception of clearly oppositional Mediterranean versus Scandinavian patterns. Despite the lockdowns imposed by the pandemic, patterns of family communication perceptions remain relatively stable. These results point to a relatively slow pace of change in family communication patterns and highlight the need for more contextual research at both national and cross-country levels.