A Link Between Generations

This research examined the relationship between three aspects of intergenerational relations—a problem in the life of an adult child, conflict with an adult child, and social support from an adult child—and depression in aging parents in a sample of three-generation California families. Of the three issues, only support from an adult child was consistently related to depression in parents. Using a nonevaluative measure of support, it was found that those parents who receive support from a child are more depressed than those who do not, and those who have less conflict between the generations are more depressed when they receive support from an adult child.