Norwegian Biological Parents and Stepparents’ Attitudes Towards Family Obligations in Middle and Old Age

Abstract

This study investigated the associations between the current family structure and the agreement with family obligations in middle and old age. It also tested whether gender differences exist in these associations. Based on research that has observed steprelationships tend to be less close than biological relationships are, it is argued that older individuals who are stepparents have lower agreement with family obligations than their counterparts in biological families have. The analytical sample was drawn from the Norwegian Life Course Ageing and Generation survey and consisted of 5564 individuals aged 50 and older. Findings suggest that individuals who do not have biological children but who are stepparents to their partners’ children agree more with filial obligations and less with parental obligations than biological parents do. The findings extend knowledge on diverse family structures in old age.