Unemployment and parent-adult child relationships: How parental support evolves following job loss

Using 14 waves of longitudinal data from the German Family Panel and individual-level fixed effects models, this study investigated how parent-adult child relationships change following the job loss of the adult children. We focused on contact frequency, emotional closeness, and three dimensions of functional solidarity: emotional, instrumental, and material support from parents to their adult children.

The findings revealed that parent-child relationships intensified after job loss across all examined domains, highlighting the important role of families as safety nets during challenging times. Analyses of father- and mother-child relationships showed that while mother-child relationships strengthened in all areas, only functional solidarity between fathers and children increased significantly.

These results emphasize the importance of family support not only in childhood but also in adulthood, especially during crises. Moreover, the differences between mothers and fathers highlight the gendered nature of parent-child relationships following job loss.