AFFECTION, SOCIAL CONTACT, AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTANCE BETWEEN ADULT CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS

This study investigates the following questions: whether greater affec tion between adult children and their parents leads to more social con tact, whether frequent social contact leads to greater affection, or w hether each of these mutually influences the other. Using nationally r epresentative data collected in 1990 by the American Association of Re tired Persons, we examine predictors of each dimension of solidarity a nd then estimate a causal model that tests the indirect and reciprocal influence among these dimensions. After finding a reciprocal influenc e between contact and affection in the mother-child relationship, but not in the father-child relationship, we conclude that the motivations for contact are different in adult-child relations with mothers compa red to those with fathers. These differences are important for underst anding the consequences of family disruption for intergenerational sol idarity in adulthood. Also, parallels are drawn between parent-child r elationships and voluntary friendships.