Sociology – Paper 2 – Family roles and changing relationships | e-Consult
Paper 2 – Family roles and changing relationships (1 questions)
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Delayed marriage and childbearing have reshaped intergenerational ties in several ways:
- Positive impacts
- Greater financial stability of younger adults can reduce economic pressure on older relatives.
- Extended periods of singlehood often increase the time younger adults spend with parents, strengthening emotional bonds.
- Later childbearing can mean grandparents are younger and healthier, facilitating more active involvement in childcare.
- Negative impacts
- When children are born later, grandparents may be older and less able to provide physical support, increasing caregiving strain.
- Longer intervals between generations can lead to reduced shared cultural references, potentially weakening familial cohesion.
- Delayed family formation may intensify the “sandwich generation” pressure, as middle‑aged adults simultaneously support ageing parents and later‑born children.
Overall, while delayed family formation can enhance certain aspects of intergenerational support, it also introduces new challenges related to age, health, and resource allocation.