Adult Children's Problems and Mothers' Well-Being: Does Parental Favoritism Matter?. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pillemer, Karl; Suitor, J. Jill; Riffin, Catherine; Gilligan, Megan
• Is Part Of: Research on aging. Volume 39:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 375
• Page End: 395
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: family -- parent–adult child relations -- older adults; Old age -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.2605
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027515611464
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0164-0275

Abstract

This article explores whether understanding of the effects of children's problems on older parents' well-being can be advanced by exploring differences in parent–child relationships within families. Using data from a study in which mothers reported on all adult children, we addressed the question: Do patterns of maternal favoritism moderate the impact of children's problems on psychological well-being? Based on the literature on the effects of children's problems and on parental favoritism, we hypothesized that problems in the lives of favored adult children will have a more detrimental impact than when they affect unfavored offspring. Results revealed strong and detrimental effects of any offspring's problems on mothers' well-being; these effects occurred, however, regardless of parental preference for an adult child. The findings suggest that the well-documented effects of parental preference may be limited in domains such as problems and difficult transitions in adult children's lives.