Ageing families, changing families: A fresh map of family relationships in later life
This project aims to make a cohesive and theoretically informed contribution to research on the transformation of older adults' family relationships since the turn of the century. Many assumptions about family relationships in later life are still based on what is sometimes referred to as the North American Standard Family and the standardized family life cycle. However, societal changes in the late 1960s and early 1970s have challenged this family model. Divorce and remarriage, cohabitation and LAT, children from multiple families, stepchildren, childlessness, and same-sex relationships characterize the family histories of many older adults today and shape their family relationships in later life.
Sweden has been at the forefront of many of the transformations of the modern family across the Western world. These changes raise questions about the role of family relationships in older adults' lives and the potential of these relationships for support and care. Within five major research projects, I have examined changes in older adults’ family relationships over the past half century. This project seeks to, in the form of a monograph, return to and synthesize findings from these studies and also develop new theoretical perspectives, with the goal of creating a fresh map of older adults’ family relationships that more accurately reflects contemporary realities. Such a framework is crucial for informing policies and practices related to aging, both in Sweden and internationally.
Sweden has been at the forefront of many of the transformations of the modern family across the Western world. These changes raise questions about the role of family relationships in older adults' lives and the potential of these relationships for support and care. Within five major research projects, I have examined changes in older adults’ family relationships over the past half century. This project seeks to, in the form of a monograph, return to and synthesize findings from these studies and also develop new theoretical perspectives, with the goal of creating a fresh map of older adults’ family relationships that more accurately reflects contemporary realities. Such a framework is crucial for informing policies and practices related to aging, both in Sweden and internationally.