Search

The current study examines daily stress processes as risk factors for comprised mental health in midlife and later life, specifically for gender differences in depression risk. Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), we examine (1) gender differences in depression; (2) the prospective effects of differential exposure and affective responses on 10-year depression status; (3) gender differences in daily stress-depression links. Furthermore, we explore whether the protective factor of help-seeking behavior moderates the effects of daily stress on depression. Participants included 1289 (mage = 55; SD = 12; range = 34–83; 56% female) individuals who completed the second waves of MIDUS and the 8-day NSDE daily diary protocol and participated in the third wave of MIDUS approximately 10 years later. Respondents completed assessments of depression and their seeking assistance from a psychiatrist, mental health professional, counselor, or religious leader. Covariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed increased odds of depression among women compared to men, but no significant gender difference after taking daily stress into account. Higher levels of stressor exposure, negative affect, and affective reactivity were associated with increased odds of depression for both men and women. Compared to those who did not engage in help-seeking behavior, those who did had significantly greater odds of depression, and there were asymmetric patterns of daily stress effects across groups. These findings highlight differential exposure, negative affect, and affective responses to daily stress as potentially accessible intervention targets for reducing stress in daily life and mitigating longer-term depression risk during mid- and later life.

Overeating and obesity are major public health issues in the United States. Caregivers are at greater risk of engaging in poor health behaviors, such as emotional eating, to cope with the demands of caregiving. Using Heatherton and Baumeister (1991) Escape Theory, this study examines the associations between caregiver characteristics (i.e. age, gender, and BMI) and emotional eating, including the extent to which family strain mediates these associations.Data are from the MIDUS 3 dataset (Female caregivers were more likely than male caregivers to engage in emotional eating. Age was significantly associated with emotional eating, where increased age was associated with less emotional eating. ANCOVA results indicated that obese caregivers were the most likely to engage in emotional eating. Results also indicated that family strain significantly mediated the association between caregiver age and emotional eating. Linear regression analyses indicated that female gender predicted emotional eating, although family strain did not mediate the association between gender and emotional eating. Similarly, after controlling for family strain as a mediator, higher BMI was still significantly associated with emotional eating, suggesting that BMI is a strong predictor of emotional eating among family caregivers regardless of present family strain.Interventions targeted at managing family strain, particularly for younger, female caregivers, could improve coping and decrease poor health behaviors.

Background and Objectives Few studies have simultaneously compared caregivers in all stages of the adult life course. This study examined age differences in associations among primary stressors (caregiver burden which includes hours of provided care and number of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living performed), secondary stressors (financial and employment strains), and caregiver outcomes (emotional strain and physical strain). Research Design Using Pearlin’s Stress Process Model (1990) and the Caregiving in the United States 2015 dataset, 1,156 caregivers were identified (including 278 young adults aged 18–39 years, 464 midlife adults aged 40–59 years, and 414 older adults aged 60–80 years). Results Post hoc analyses revealed that compared to older adults, young adults reported less caregiver burden, less physical strain, and greater financial strain. Linear regression analyses revealed associations between caregiver burden and financial strain with emotional and physical strain for all respondents. Discussion and Implications Findings emphasize the need for age-specific interventions.

Many older adults experience age-associated memory changes. Scholars have explored more intensive memory loss problems (i.e., dementia) within marriage, however minor memory failures may also impact older adults' relationships. Minor daily memory failures could bring frustrations that manifest as negative affect, which could then spill over into marital interactions. The current study utilized a daily framework to examine microlongitudinal pathways of memory to negative affect to marital interactions among 191 couples across 14 consecutive days. Dyadic multivariate multilevel structural equation models were used to explore daily positive and negative marital interactions as a function of 2 days prior (t-2) memory failures and prior day (t-1) negative affect. Findings suggest that between-person memory failures were consistently linked with negative affect, and between-person negative affect was linked to fewer daily positive and more daily negative marital interactions for husbands, as well as more daily negative marital interactions for wives. Within-person t-2 memory failures were linked to t-1 negative affect for husbands. Indirect associations linking memory failures with negative marital quality through negative affect were significant for wives, and only at a between-person level. The effects of daily memory failures have important implications for daily negative affect and negative marital interactions, and these effects may last for multiple days. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The purpose of this study was to examine the links among relationship quality (RQ) and predictors of cardiovascular risks and consider the role of physical touch as a moderator. The sample includes 2,731 adults who participated in the National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP). Results indicate that positive RQ and negative RQ are associated with systolic blood pressure (BP) and pulse pressure (PP) depending on the level of physical touch. Participants who reported highly positive RQ had lower systolic BP and PP with higher physical touch with others. Conversely, participants who reported highly negative RQ had higher systolic BP when reporting higher physical touch. The findings offer preliminary evidence for how physical touch in the context of social relationships may have nuanced implications for older adults’ cardiovascular outcomes.

This study investigated the dissimilarity in midlife adults’ reports of support they and their spouse provide to their parents-in-law, gender differences in these dissimilarity patterns, and implications of this dissimilarity for marital quality. Middle-aged married participants (n = 164, mean age = 53.96 years) from Wave 2 of the Family Exchanges Study reported on the support they and their spouse provided to at least 1 living parent-in-law. Regression models examined associations of marital satisfaction with support for parents-in-law, evaluations of support for parents-in-law, and spousal dissimilarity in support. Gender differences in own and spousal support for parents-in-law revealed matrilineal focused support among married adults. Spousal dissimilarity in support was negatively associated with marital satisfaction for middle-aged adults. This pattern suggests the importance of a perceived balance in supporting one’s spouse’s parents for marital quality.

Adult children are at risk of emotional strain when parental caregiving needs emerge. Pearlin’s Stress Process Model (1990) and caregiver studies suggest minority caregivers report lower subjective caregiving burden, however, few studies simultaneously consider both the stresses and rewards of caregiving. Using data from Wave II of the Family Exchange Study (N = 243), we examine racial differences in midlife adults’ perceptions (i.e., stress and rewards) of assisting their parents with activities of daily living (ADLs) and the associations between perceptions of ADL assistance and emotional well-being among adults who help their parents with ADLs. Compared to non-minority caregivers (M = 4.18, SD = 0.91), minority caregivers (M = 4.45, SD = 0.84) found it more rewarding to help their mother (t(314) = -2.54, p < .05), whereas non-minority caregivers (M = 2.25, SD = .1.27) found it more stressful to help their father than did minority caregivers (M = 1.64, SD = 0.99), t(162) = 3.01, p < .01). After controlling for demographics and ADL needs, linear regression analyses revealed that the stress of helping parents predicted depression (F(6, 189) = 5.30, p < .001) and race moderated the association (p < .01); the association was only significant for minority caregivers (p < .05). Implications will be discussed.

Caregiver burden is an important public health issue. Young adult caregivers report poorer mental health than young adults who do not provide care; however, few studies compare young adults’ caregiving experiences to caregivers in other life stages. Using data from the National Alliance for Caregiving (N = 1635), this study utilizes Pearlin’s Stress Process Model (1990) to examine age differences in primary and secondary stressors and caregiver outcomes. Respondents include young adults ages 18–39 years (n = 399), midlife adults ages 40–59 years (n = 620), and older adults ages 60–80 years (n = 616). Primary stressors include the hours spent caregiving, number of ADL and IADL dependencies, and caregiver burden, and the secondary stressor is the financial strains associated with caregiving. Caregiver outcomes include emotional and physical strains. ANOVA results revealed significant age differences in stressors and caregiver outcomes. Post hoc tests indicated that young adult caregivers assist with fewer IADLs (F (2, 1252) = 3.85, p < .05) and report less caregiver burden (F (2, 1223) = 3.63, p < .05) than do older adults, whereas midlife adults spend fewer hours caregiving compared to younger and older adults (F (2, 1223) = 5.98, p < .01). Compared to midlife adults, older adults reported fewer financial strains (F (2, 1225) = 5.22, p < .01). There were no significant age differences in the emotional and physical strains of caregiving. Findings suggest young adults are exposed to fewer primary stressors, yet experience similar caregiving strains compared to their older counterparts.

Racial disparities in health are substantial and well documented. Differential exposure and reactivity to psychological stressors provide one way through which African Americans’ health is disadvantaged. Although supportive family networks buffer African Americans from the harmful effects of stressors, a growing body of work emphasizes the physical and psychological costs associated with African Americans’ family ties. This chapter summarizes research on racial disparities in health and well-being and illustrates the advantages of daily diary methods for examining links between race, psychosocial stressors, and daily health by describing Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) research on racial differences in the health implications of stressful experiences involving family relationships. Together, findings provide insights into how and when family stressors and social support demands compromise African Americans’ health and well-being. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the broader implications of the MIDUS findings and directions for future research on race and health.

Cross-sectional studies reveal the health burden of grandparent caregiving. Still, longitudinal, research is needed to understand how grandparent caregiving compromises grandparents’ long-term health. Using three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), we examined sociodemographic factors, health and well-being outcomes between caregiving (CG) and non-caregiving (NCG) grandparents. By wave 3, 12.8% (n = 234) were CG. CG were younger, more likely female, and had lower income and education. MANCOVA adjusted for age, gender, education, and number of children revealed CG reported poorer physical and emotional well-being (e.g. higher depression, anxiety, lower life satisfaction, greater morbidity); CG were consistently less healthy than NCG across all three waves. Lower income and less healthy older adults are more likely to become grandparents, and they remain less healthy over time. Policies and resources to assist grandparents, particularly low-income and vulnerable older adults who are caring for grandchildren, are needed.

The authors blended elements from the Stress Process Model and the Family Stress Model to investigate the direct and indirect effects of custodial grandmothers' (CGMs') coping resources (i.e., active strategies, passive strategies, and social support) on their psychological distress, their parenting practices, and their grandchild's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants included African American and White CGMs (N = 733, M age = 56) who provided full-time care to a grandchild (Mage = 9.8). Structural equation modeling revealed that social support and active coping were related to lower CGM distress and less ineffective parenting, whereas passive coping was associated with increased distress and more ineffective parenting. Ineffective parenting had direct effects on grandchildren's outcomes, whereas CGM coping resources had direct effects on ineffective parenting and indirect effects (through ineffective parenting) on grandchildren's externalizing and internalizing difficulties. The authors conclude that CGM coping resources affect the psychological well-being of both generations.

The current study explored older workers’ perceptions of the training they receive in foodservice establishments, including perceptions of training methods, pace, and the use of technology in training. Data for this study were collected through two focus groups of foodservice employees 55 and older, where participants responded to semi-structured questions about their training experiences. Analysis of the focus group data revealed three overarching themes: (1) need for better leadership, (2) training structure, and (3) pride and enjoyment at work. Respondents emphasized the importance of managerial support, were eager for continued training, perceived the greatest benefit to on-the-job training, and appreciated the use of technology in training but were frustrated with the short time allocated to learning new technologies. Recommendations are made for training practices endorsed by older workers that organizations could adopt to improve the retention and performance of older workers, who are increasingly becoming important to the hospitality industry.

African Americans often report lower caregiver burden, however, few studies consider the broader daily context of African American caregivers’ lives. This study examines racial differences in the associations between providing care for a spouse or parent and daily health and well-being among African Americans and European Americans, including how other daily stressors moderate these associations. During eight days of interviews, respondents aged 34 to 84 years (N = 1,931) from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II) reported on their daily stressors, negative affect (NA), physical symptoms, and whether or not they provided support to a spouse or parent with a disability. Controlling for demographics, on caregiving days, NA was higher than on non-caregiving days (p < .05) for all respondents. On caregiving days with no work stressors, African Americans only reported more physical symptoms than on caregiving days with work stressors (p < .05). Implications will be discussed.

Demographic and social trends shape the timing, nature, and implications of social roles and transitions. With increased life expectancy and a changing world, expectations for work and retirement and the need for informal and formal caregiving continue to evolve. Families are also more heterogeneous and the population is becoming increasingly more racially/ethnically diverse. These changes underscore the need for research that focuses on the varied social roles individuals occupy in midlife and later adulthood and the implications of these roles for health and well-being. The current symposium features research that explores multiple roles, including romantic partner, grandparent, and employee/retiree, caregiver/care recipient while attending to individual differences in how these roles and transitions are associated with physical and mental health outcomes. Garcia, Donnelly, and Umberson utilize dyadic diary data from midlife men and women in gay, lesbian, and heterosexual marriages to consider how exposure and reactivity to daily stress varies across union types. Rickenbach and colleagues examine longitudinal changes in health and well-being associated with being a caregiving and non-caregiving grandparent. Cichy and Koumoutzis examine racial differences in the associations between providing care to a spouse/parent and daily health and well-being among African Americans and European Americans. Savla, Roberto, and Sands classify community-living older adults based on their care needs while considering the type of care they receive, predictors of this care, and its implications for care recipients’ health. Finally, Stawski and colleagues examine how mental, physical, and cognitive health change as a function of the transition to and through retirement.

Widowhood may result in declines in health and potentially stressful changes to daily routines. However, little research has examined how daily stressors contribute to physical and emotional well-being in widowhood. The objectives of the current study were to examine daily stressor exposure and reactivity in widowed versus married older adults.Participants included all 100 widowed and 342 married adults aged 65 and older from the National Study of Daily Experiences, a daily diary study from the second wave of the Midlife in the United States. Daily stressors were measured using the Daily Inventory of Stressful Events; multilevel modeling assessed daily reactivity to stressors using daily negative affect (emotional reactivity) and daily physical symptoms (physical reactivity) as outcomes.Married participants reported more stressors in general, and specifically more interpersonal stressors (e.g., arguments). Both married and widowed participants were reactive to daily stressors. Married participants were physically and emotionally reactive to interpersonal stressors. Widowed participants were more physically reactive to home-related stressors.Attention to the types of daily stressors that widowed older adults experience in daily life and the potential physical effects of daily stressors during widowhood may help to alleviate some of the physical distress that widowed older adults may experience.

While much research has focused on linking stressful experiences to emotional and biological reactions in laboratory settings, there is an emerging interest in extending these examinations to field studies of daily life. The current study examined day-to-day associations among naturally-occurring daily stressors and salivary cortisol in a national sample of adults from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). A sample of 1,694 adults (Age=57, Range=33–84; 44% male) completed telephone interviews detailing their stressors and emotions on eight consecutive evenings. Participants also provided saliva samples upon waking, 30 minutes post-waking, before lunch and before bed, on four consecutive interview days resulting in 5,995 days of interview/cortisol data. Analyses revealed three main findings. First, cortisol AUC was significantly higher on stressor days compared to stressor-free days, particularly for arguments and overloads at home, suggesting that daily stressors are associated with increased cortisol output, but that not all daily stressors have such an influence. Second, individuals reporting a greater frequency of stressor days also exhibited a steeper diurnal cortisol slope. Finally, daily stressor-cortisol associations were unaltered after adjustment for daily negative affect and physical symptoms. Our discussion focuses on the influence of naturally-occurring daily stressors on daily cortisol and the role of daily diary approaches for studying healthy cortisol responses to psychosocial stressors outside of traditional laboratory settings.

Objectives. Parents’ perceptions of their adult children’s successes (or lack thereof) may be associated in different ways with discrete negative emotions (e.g., guilt, anger, disappointment, and worry). Furthermore, mothers and fathers may vary in their reactions to children’s success in different domains. Method. Participants included 158 mothers and fathers from the same families (N = 316) and their adult child. Mothers and fathers evaluated their adult children’s successes in (a) career and (b) relationship domains. Mothers and fathers also reported on several negative emotions in the parent–child tie: guilt, anger, disappointment, and worry. Results. For fathers, perceptions of children’s poorer career success were associated with disappointment, anger, and guilt. Mothers’ perceptions of children’s lack of career success were associated with disappointment and worry. Mothers’ perceptions of children’s poorer success in relationships were associated with each of the negative emotions, with the exception of anger. Discussion. Parents experience emotions associated with unmet goals and future concerns in relationships with less successful children. Mothers may respond emotionally to career and relationship success, whereas fathers may respond emotionally primarily to their child’s career success. Findings underscore the importance of considering the context of parents’ negative emotional experiences in ties to adult children.

Middle-aged adults often provide beneficial support to grown children. Yet, in some relationships, grown children may feel beholden or intruded upon when they receive parental help. The purpose of this study was to examine such conflicted support in relationships between middle-aged parents and young adults.Middle-aged parents (aged 40-60, n = 399) and their grown children (n = 592) participated. Parents rated perceptions of providing support and relationship quality with each child. Grown children indicated whether their mothers and fathers provided conflicted support and rated their perceptions of parental support, relationship quality, and other factors.Multilevel models revealed that offspring's perceptions of conflicted support were associated with (a) parents' evaluations about providing support (e.g., greater stress and beliefs that grown children should be autonomous), (b) poorer quality relationships, and (c) offspring having more problems.Findings suggest that perceptions of conflicted support are embedded in a larger constellation of relationship problems and underlying distress for parents and children. These patterns may reflect lifelong difficulties in the tie or that arise in adulthood. Researchers might seek to understand how dyads experiencing such conflicted support differ from more normative relationships characterized by warmth and well-received support.

Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), this study examined racial differences in exposure and reactivity to daily stressors involving family members. Respondents included African American and European American adults aged 34 to 84 (N = 1,931) who participated in 8 days of daily interviews where they reported on daily stressors, affect, and physical health symptoms. Results revealed racial similarities in family stressor exposure. Both races were also emotionally reactive to family arguments and family network events (i.e., events that happen to a family member), whereas African Americans were more physically reactive to family arguments. For African Americans, reactivity to family arguments endured; the increased negative affect and physical symptoms associated with family arguments lasted into the next day. Findings provide evidence for racial similarities and differences, suggesting that family relationships are universally stressful, whereas the negative effects of family stressors are more enduring among African Americans.

Prior studies have investigated the linkages between stressor appraisal and negative affect (NA), but have neglected the dynamic aspects of risk appraisal in daily life. This study examines associations between day-to-day fluctuations in subjective risk appraisals and NA and individual differences in neuroticism. Daily risk appraisals (e.g., risk to self) and daily NA were modeled using diary data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II), where respondents completed 8 days of interviews (N = 1012). Multilevel models revealed substantial within person variation in both risk appraisal including self and NA. Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with higher levels of and instability of risk appraisal and NA. In addition, the covariation between risk appraisal and NA was greater among individuals with higher neuroticism (p < .05). Findings add to research suggesting higher levels of neuroticism increase individuals’ vulnerability to the negative effects of daily stressors through stressor appraisal.

The present study examined age differences in exposure and reactivity to interpersonal tensions among white and black Americans. Participants from the National Study of Daily Experiences II (NSDE II, n = 1,696 white and n = 239 black; ages 34–84) reported their experiences of daily interpersonal tensions and well-being (positive and negative affect) over 8 days and provided salivary cortisol samples. A total of 40% of respondents reported having an argument and 62% reported avoiding an argument. Multilevel models estimated separately for black and white respondents revealed that older people reported fewer interpersonal tensions (i.e., less exposure) than did younger people. However, age differences in reactivity to tensions (e.g., appraisals, coping strategies, implications of tensions for affect and cortisol) varied by race. Although older black respondents reported tensions were less stressful than younger black respondents, there were fewer age difference in reactivity to tensions overall among black respondents compared with white respondents. Findings are consistent with the exposure-reactivity model and gerontological theories of emotion regulation but show that the specific age differences vary by race which may indicate unique strengths and vulnerabilities among whites and blacks.

This study examined the effects of writing letters of gratitude on three primary qualities of well-being; happiness (positive affect), life-satisfaction (cognitive evaluation), and depression (negative affect). Gratitude was also assessed. Participants included 219 men and women who wrote three letters of gratitude over a 3 week period. A two-way mixed method ANOVA with a between factor (writers vs. non-writers) and within subject factor (time of testing) analysis was conducted. Results indicated that writing letters of gratitude increased participants’ happiness and life satisfaction, while decreasing depressive symptoms. The implications of this approach for intervention are discussed.

This study examined generational differences in gender attitudes between parents and grown offspring, includingtheextenttowhichthesedifferencesvaryinfamilies with daughters vs families with sons and in African American vs European American families. Participants included 158 African American and European American men and women (aged 22to49years), their mothers,and their fathers (N=474) recruited predominantly through purchased telephone lists. Participants completed a self-report measure of gender attitudes toward marital and childrearing roles. Mixed method ANOVAs revealed offspring were less traditional than parents, although there were greater generational differ- ences in attitudes between mothers and daughters and in European American families. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for family roles and relationships.

Most parents and children are fortunate to share several decades of the life course when both parties are healthy adults. When parents reach the transition to old age, however, they typically experience health declines and both parties must adjust to changes in the relationship. The sample included older adults (aged 70+) suffering vision loss, hearing loss, or seeking general health care and a grown son or daughter (N=121 dyads, 242 individuals). Aging parents also suffered common health problems (e.g., hypertension, arthritis). Parents and offspring provided open-ended descriptions of changes and continuities in their relationship. Although prior studies link parental health declines to intergenerational ambivalence, most parents and offspring in this study mentioned positive changes in the relationship in recent years, regardless of parental health. Multilevel models revealed that perceptions of changes in parental health or receipt of support were associated with objective indicators of parental health. Findings suggest offspring's views of the relationship converge with parents’ when parents reach the transition to old age and show physical signs of aging.

The authors blended elements from the Stress Process Model and the Family Stress Model to investigate the direct and indirect effects of custodial grandmothers’ (CGMs’) coping resources (i.e., active strategies, passive strategies, and social support) on their psychological distress, their parenting practices, and their grandchild’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants included African American and White CGMs (N = 733, M age = 56) who provided full-time care to a grandchild (Mage = 9.8). Structural equation modeling revealed that social support and active coping were related to lower CGM distress and less ineffective parenting, whereas passive coping was associated with increased distress and more ineffective parenting. Ineffective parenting had direct effects on grandchildren’s outcomes, whereas CGM coping resources had direct effects on ineffective parenting and indirect effects (through ineffective parenting) on grandchildren’s externalizing and internalizing difficulties. The authors conclude that CGM coping resources affect the psychological well-being of both generations.

Research reveals emotional costs of African Americans’ family ties, however, few studies consider the physiological toll of stressors involving family. We address this gap by examining racial differences in associations between daily family stressors and naturally occurring cortisol levels. During daily diary interviews, African American and European American respondents from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II, N = 1, 931) reported on daily network stressors (i.e., other family members’ stressors) and provided salivary cortisol samples four times throughout the day on 4 of the 8 interview days. The interaction between individual differences in network stressor frequency and race significantly predicted cortisol area under the curve (AUC; p < .01). Even after covarying for negative affect, symptoms, and family support provision, African Americans who report more network stressors exhibited a lower AUC (i.e., less cortisol output), whereas European Americans exhibited no association. Implications for health disparities will be discussed.

This study examined generational, ethnic, and gender differences in conflict behaviors during interactions between adults and their parents. We considered associations between observed conflict engagement and conflict disengagement behaviors and participant-rated relationship quality.Participants included 155 African American and European American women and men (aged 22-49 years), their mothers and their fathers (N = 465). Adult children were videotaped separately with their mother and their father discussing relationship problems. Independent raters coded the conversations for conflict engagement (e.g., pressuring for change) and disengagement (e.g., withdrawing) behaviors.In African American families, parents displayed more conflict engagement and adult children displayed more conflict disengagement, whereas European American parents and adult children did not differ in their conflict behaviors. Mothers, fathers, and adult children reported poorer relationship quality when they engaged in more conflict engagement behaviors. Adult children also reported poorer quality relationships when their mothers displayed more conflict engagement behaviors. Mothers reported poorer quality relationships when their adult children engaged in more conflict disengagement.Findings suggest that even as adults, parents and children in poorer quality relationships may engage in potentially ineffective behaviors to resolve conflicts.

Research on widowhood mostly emphasizes negative outcomes, but some studies suggest widows are resilient. This study evaluated the in-depth daily experiences of older widows compared to married women. Participants included 75 widows and 125 married women from the National Study of Daily Experiences II who completed daily diaries over eight days. For long-term widows, there were no differences compared to married women in daily and general well-being, and a few differences in time use. Results add to the literature by using daily diary data to illustrate the general resilience of older women many years after the death of a spouse.

Designing class activities that enable students to interact with older adults in meaningful ways is one of the most powerful tools of undergraduate gerontological education. This chapter describes the benefits of participating in intergenerational discussion groups for undergraduate students and older adults. Throughout the semester, older adults attended four to five Introduction to Gerontology class sessions, where together with the undergraduate students they participated in thought provoking dialogs about current gerontological issues. The goal was for older adults and college students alike to gain knowledge, improve problem solving skills, and question their own belief systems. After participating in the discussion groups, the undergraduate students indicated that they had an increased understanding of older adults. Further, older adults’ self-report questionnaires and focus group participation indicated that attending the groups helped them feel mentally sharp and more knowledgeable about aging. Benefits for both generations will be discussed.

This study examined age differences in topics that generate interpersonal tensions as well as relationship level characteristics that may account for variability in the content of interpersonal tensions. Participants aged 13 to 99 years ( N = 184) diagramed their close and problematic social networks, and then provided open-ended descriptions of recent tensions with up to 6 social partners. Multilevel models were conducted to examine variability in 5 types of tensions (i.e., financial issues, daily activities, scheduling, job/school, and self). Older adults were less likely than younger ages to describe tensions over job/school and daily activities. Job/school tensions were more likely to occur with acquaintances and negative network members. Tensions over scheduling were more likely to occur with positive and ambivalent network members, and tensions over daily activities were associated with less emotional distress. Results suggest relationship characteristics contribute to the content of tensions.

Theory suggests that aging parents and their adult children experience ambivalence (conflicting emotions) as a result of unclear norms governing the tie between them. This study investigated personality differences and relationship context differences in ambivalence, as well as the reactions of parents and offspring to each other. As part of the Adult Family Study, 474 individuals from 158 family triads consisting of a mother, father, and son or daughter aged 22 to 49 years completed telephone interviews, in-person interviews, and questionnaires. Multilevel models revealed that poor parental health and neuroticism in parents and offspring were associated with greater ambivalence. Surprisingly, investment in competing roles was associated with less ambivalence. Parents also experienced greater ambivalence when offspring scored higher on neuroticism, rated the parent as less important, or were less invested in their own spousal role. Parents' characteristics were not associated with offspring's ambivalence. Parents appear to react to their children's personality and achievements even after children are grown.