Flows of support: reciprocity between adult children and parents over the life course

Understanding patterns of intergenerational support is critical in the context of population ageing and changes in the policy landscape of health and social care provision. Existing research has usually analysed intergenerational support at a given time in the individuals’ lifecourse. However, the lack of empirical data has rendered the study of the dynamic nature of such support a more difficult task. Using data from the 1958 cohort study, this paper examines the extent to which the receipt of help from one’s parents in early adulthood affects the chances of adult-children to reciprocate with support later in life. Results show that provision of support to parents was associated with having previously received support, although with a gradient of reciprocity. Highly demanding types of help provided to parents respond more to the altruism model (especially for daughters), while less demanding provision of help are more responsive to reciprocity norms (especially for sons)