Identifying Cultural Differences In Views on Intergenerational Care

Background

Intergenerational caregiving is a well-explored area of social science research, yet differences in various cultural and ethnic groups’ views on caregiving remain understudied in the current landscape in the United States. Cultural norms and values shape attitudes toward caregiving. This paper examines how different racial and ethnic groups in the United States view intergenerational caregiving and how being religious may moderate this relationship. In essence, religion represents the participants’ value system within the model. This study offers a multidirectional perspective on caregiving attitudes that reflects current realities, to inform more culturally competent perspectives on families.

Methods

The data used in this study came from the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel, Wave 126. It was collected in 2023 and surveyed 5,073 respondents on topics of family life and racial tensions. Participants were recruited by mail. The dependent variable, views on intergenerational caregiving, combined two five-point Likert scale items measuring attitudes toward grandparents helping with childcare and adult children providing care for elderly parents. The independent variable was a combined race and ethnicity measure (white, Black, Asian, and Hispanic). “Other” was excluded from analysis due to low response rate. The moderator was dichotomized to represent religious and non-religious identities. Control variables included gender, age categories, and political leanings (i.e., liberal, conservative, moderate views). Multivariate linear regression was used to test main effects and moderation.

Results

The sample was 52.69% male and 46.05% female, with participants identifying as 53.56% white, 18.81% Hispanic, 15.83% Black, and 7.25% Asian. Over 65% of the sample identified as religious. The final model was statistically significant (F(13,4498)=22.41, p<.0001), explaining approximately 6% of the variance in caregiving views (R²=0.06). Findings indicated that being Black (p<.001) and being religious (p<.001) were significant positive predictors of endorsing intergenerational caregiving. Additionally, participants 65+ were significantly more likely to support bidirectional care than younger age groups (p<.001). Moderation was found between identifying as Asian and religious (p=0.0287, ΔF= 2.832, p=0.037), suggesting that religious affiliation may impact caregiving views for Asian Americans.

Discussion

Results suggest that Black Americans and religious individuals significantly endorse caregiving responsibility overall. Being over 65 and endorsing bidirectional care may suggest a desire to be involved in the lives of grandchildren, as well as to receive care. The moderation effect found for those who are Asian and religious may be explained by religion as a proxy for community involvement that reinforces cultural norms, such as filial piety, and counters assimilation. These findings have implications for social work practice, highlighting the need for cultural competency when navigating services for families from the macro to micro level. Future research should address limitations and seek to better understand the true effect of religious identity. Future studies should also further investigate what can be gleaned from intergenerational caregiving expertise within marginalized communities that illustrate resiliency amidst care challenges from a strengths-based, standpoint theory perspective.