Fingerman Karen, Miller Laura, Birditt Kira, Zarit Steven
Purdue University.
J Marriage Fam. 2009 Dec 1;71(5):1220-1233. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00665.x.
Parents may provide many types of support to their grown children. Parents aged 40 to 60 (N = 633) reported the support they exchange with each child over age 18 (n = 1,384). Mothers and fathers differentiated among children within families, but provided emotional, financial, and practical help on average every few weeks to each child. Offspring received most assistance when they: (a) had greater needs (due to problems or younger age) or (b) were perceived as more successful. Parents received more from high achieving offspring. Findings support contingency theory; parents give more material and financial support to children in need. Motivation to enhance the self or to assure support later in life may explain support to high achieving offspring.
父母可能会为他们已成年的子女提供多种类型的支持。年龄在40到60岁之间的父母（N = 633）报告了他们与18岁以上的每个子女（n = 1384）之间的支持往来。母亲和父亲会区分家庭中的不同子女，但平均每隔几周就会为每个子女提供情感、经济和实际帮助。当子女出现以下情况时会得到最多帮助：（a）有更大需求（由于问题或年龄较小），或（b）被认为更成功。高成就子女会给予父母更多回报。研究结果支持权变理论；父母会为有需要的子女提供更多物质和经济支持。增强自我或确保晚年得到支持的动机可能解释了对高成就子女的支持。
