ATTITUDES TOWARD PUBLIC SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY - DOES EARLY INVOLVEMENT WITH GRANDPARENTS MODERATE GENERATIONAL TENSIONS

This study examines age differences in attitudes toward public support for the elderly, and whether contact with grandparents during childho od moderates these differences. Data collected in 1990 from a national ly representative sample were used to address these issues. Attitudes toward the fairness of public policy are characterized by two dimensio ns, one signifying support for entitlement of the elderly to benefits and a second dimension signifying support for the contributory schemes that fund old-age benefits. Multiple regression analyses reveal that young adults (18-24) are the age group least supportive of elderly ent itlement benefits and most concerned that the elderly are not paying t heir fair share of the cost of their benefits. However, greater childh ood contact with grandparents reduced the generally greater opposition of young adults to current contributory policy thereby moderating age -group tensions around this issue. Results are discussed in the contex t of the ''interdependence of generations'' framework.