Sibling Dynamics in Adult Children's Support Across Parental Widowhood Phases in Korea

Abstract

Objective

This study examines adult children's intergenerational support within families across parental widowhood phases in South Korea.

Background

In aging South Korea, adult children remain the primary source of support for widowed parents amid rising rates of living alone and older adulthood poverty. Yet, little is known about how siblings distribute support across widowhood stages. Viewing parental widowhood as a process involving the dying parent, the widowed parent, and all adult children, this study investigates which child provides what types of support and who tends to withdraw.

Method

Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (waves 1–9), we analyzed 676 mid- and older-aged parents who became widowed during the survey period and their 2351 adult children. Multilevel regressions examined how changes in intergenerational support were associated with sibling position (gender and birth order) and gender-specific sibship size.

Results

Compared to other siblings, first-born sons showed the largest increase in financial support to widowed parents during early widowhood, whereas first-born daughters were most likely to provide caregiving to the dying parent. However, both forms of support were temporary. Later-born sons showed lower involvement, being less likely to co-reside with widowed parents in early widowhood and least likely to provide caregiving for the dying parent. Additionally, having more brothers was negatively associated with individuals' likelihood of providing caregiving to the dying parent.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight that intergenerational support across widowhood phases is shaped by the interplay of sibling position, sibship size, and timing, extending beyond gendered patterns of support.