Silverstein M, Bengtson V L
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-0191.
Soc Sci Med. 1994 Apr;38(7):943-57. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(94)90427-8.
This study investigates whether social support from adult children improves the psychological well-being of elderly parents. Support is studied as a direct influence on emotional distress and as a moderator of the distressing consequences of health problems and widowhood. Research questions are addressed using data from elderly parents participating in 1985 and 1988 surveys of the U.S.C., Longitudinal Study of Three Generation Families. Results from multiple regression analyses indicate that instrumental and expressive forms of social support are weakly related to 3-year change in positive and negative aspects of psychological well-being. However, both types of support moderate declines in well-being associated with poor health and widowhood. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational social support are contingent on the vulnerability of the older parent, when expectations for assistance are at their greatest. This finding has considerable implications for family theory and policy.
本研究调查成年子女给予的社会支持是否能改善老年父母的心理健康状况。研究将支持视为对情绪困扰的直接影响，以及健康问题和丧偶带来的困扰后果的调节因素。研究问题通过使用参与1985年和1988年美国全国家庭纵向研究三代家庭调查的老年父母的数据来解决。多元回归分析结果表明，工具性和表达性社会支持形式与心理健康积极和消极方面的三年变化微弱相关。然而，这两种支持都能缓和与健康不佳和丧偶相关的幸福感下降。我们得出结论，代际社会支持的心理益处取决于老年父母的脆弱性，此时他们对帮助的期望最大。这一发现对家庭理论和政策具有重要意义。
