Giving and receiving support in old age: Its contribution to satisfaction with life

Resumen

INTRODUCTION: Within the context of intergenerational relations, the social exchangetheory posits that those people who receive more than they give experience the highest levelsof wellbeing. The equity theory suggests that the highest levels of wellbeing are associatedwith balanced relationships. In spite of the abundant research on mutual support relationshipsand wellbeing, the empirical evidence for such theories is hardly conclusive. Our aim is totest both theories considering the exchange of support between elderly people and their adultchildren. METHOD AND MATERIALS: 489 elderly people were interviewed (aged 60-98;M = 73.3 years, 42% males, 58% females), in good health and living in the community. Itemswere drawn up using a Likert scale (1-4, Never – Many times) to obtain the frequency ofsupport (instrumental and emotional) received from sons and daughters. RESULTS: TheANOVAs performed, controlling the effect of socio-demographic and subjective healthvariables, revealed that the situations of reciprocity and non-reciprocity in instrumentalsupport produced the same levels of satisfaction with life. However, in emotional support,equitable relations led to higher levels of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results partiallysupport the equity theory, thereby indicating the significant role of reciprocity and emotionsin wellbeing. Some consideration should be given to the possible role of cultural norms onthe support for and from adult children in old age