Intergenerational Dependence in Italy : Exploring Changes in Households Composition and in Family Social Support Exchanges

This work is developed within the theoretical framework of intergenerational solidarity, developed principally by Vern L. Bengtson, who identifies the western modernization process as main cause of changes into the nuclear family’s structure. One of these changes is the rise of vulnerability concerning two generations, the oldest and the youngest ones, which results in increased intergenerational dependency, in the sense of greater need of support and family solidarity. An ecological time series analysis was carried out on several indicators gathered at the national aggregate level, starting from 1994 to 2010: measures of vulnerability and intergenerational dependency. Results go in support to the validity of Bengtson’s thesis. Indicators used were chosen to weigh social phenomena having household as unit of analysis. This forced to assume a structural perspective on the concept of family and don't allow to get important characterizations and functions of families. For this reason, a second stage of the research centered on the relational dimension of families has to be performed. Here particular importance shall be given to produce empirical evidence to corroborate the hypothesis that Italian families are expanding intergenerational solidarity networks, in which functional dimension (giving and receiving support) is predominant. Particularly suitable would be perform a longitudinal analysis on data collected in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, measuring increases in intergenerational exchanges, especially of support and help, over the past decade.