Value of Children, Family Change, and Implications for the Care of the Elderly

Values attributed to children provide insights into the place of the child in family and society. The place of the child, in turn, is the key to understanding intergenerational dynamics. In this article, a key construct, “value of children,” and several studies using it are examined from the perspective of a theory of family change. This theoretical perspective and the studies shed light on the links between the values attributed to children/expectations from them, and the care of the elderly—two key aspects of the family not commonly studied in intersection. This intersection is analyzed in this article. Research shows that where the values attributed to children define the role of the offspring as the provider for the parents, family care of the elderly becomes the norm. With systematic changes in the socio-cultural-economic context and in the family, this norm undergoes change, also. What changes, what is maintained, and to what degree are empirical questions of significance for the care of the elderly.