Should Parents Financially Support their Adult Children? Normative Views in Australia

Deirdre Drake (), Justine Dandy, Jennifer M. I. Loh and David Preece
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Deirdre Drake: Edith Cowan University
Justine Dandy: Edith Cowan University
Jennifer M. I. Loh: Edith Cowan University
David Preece: Edith Cowan University

Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2018, vol. 39, issue 2, No 13, 348-359

Abstract: Abstract Social welfare policies generally assume that parents remain responsible for adult children. Recent social changes in industrialized nations, however, have rendered family obligation norms more complex. We examined 300 Australians’ norms concerning parents’ obligations to support adult children financially. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, we investigated the extent to which respondents agreed that parents should support adult children, and the influence of situational factors. More respondents were in favor of assisting adult children than against, but there was no consensus as to what parents should do. Respondents generally agreed on factors that should be considered, then attempted to balance parental responsibility norms with adult independence norms. Parental help was more strongly endorsed when need was considered legitimate, and when the adult child was younger. Implications for Australian social policy are discussed.

Keywords: Social norms; Parent–child relations; Financial support; Transition to adulthood; Intergenerational support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10834-017-9558-z

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