Program Area: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Athena Koumoutzis, MA
Doctoral Candidate
Sociology & Gerontology
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio, United States
Kelly Cichy, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio, United States
Athena Koumoutzis, MA
Doctoral Candidate
Sociology & Gerontology
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio, United States
.jpg "Kyungmin Kim, PhD photo")
Kyungmin Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor
Child Development and Family Studies
Seoul National University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Cindy Bui, MS
PhD Candidate
Gerontology
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Kira Birditt, PhD
Research Professor
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Naomi Meinertz, PhD
Program Coordinator for Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Human Development and Family Studies
Iowa State University
Fairfax, Iowa, United States
Enduring social ties with family and friends hold important implications for health and well-being across adulthood. Social relationships are simultaneously sources of support and strain, and both positive and negative aspects of relationships change daily and over time. This symposium explores continuity and change in relationship strains (i.e., conflicts, support needs) experienced in the context of enduring social relationships, particularly in response to anticipated and emerging needs for support in later life. First, Meinertz, Gilligan, and Suitor use qualitative data from spousal dyads to compare mothers’ and fathers’ explanations of which adult child they prefer as their future caregiver. Next, using longitudinal data across two waves, Bui, Kim, and Fingerman investigate how different types of past support exchanges between parents and adult children are associated with older parents’ care receipt and expectations. Third, Koumoutzis, Cichy, and Kinney explore the association between change in parental disability and adult children’s intergenerational ambivalence (i.e., both positive and negative sentiments), including the extent to which adult children’s stress and reward appraisals mediate the link between parental disability and ambivalence. Kyungmin and colleagues explore how older adults (age 62-76) felt burden in their relationship with their very old parents (age 81-101) and what factors are associated with feelings of burden across two cultural contexts, the U.S. and Korea. Lastly, using ecological momentary assessment, Birditt and colleagues examine longitudinal trajectories of negative ties (i.e., irritating, demanding) and the links between daily positive and negative social interactions and emotional well-being.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Athena Koumoutzis, MA – Miami University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kyungmin Kim, PhD – Seoul National University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Cindy N. Bui, MS – University of Massachusetts Boston
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kira Birditt, PhD – University of Michigan
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Naomi R. Meinertz, PhD – Iowa State University