Disruptions in Family and Work Life

Within the next 20 years, a fifth of the population of the United Kingdom will be aged 65 and over prompting widespread concern about the future support of frail older people. Most older people do not have health problems and are important providers of help and support to families. However, the population needing care is likely to increase given projected rises in the number of older people with functional limitations (even assuming falling disability rates). In addition, recent government policies have emphasised domiciliary (rather than institutional) care for older people, policies which implicitly rely on the involvement of family and friends. At the same time the UK, like other European countries, has witnessed substantial changes in family life (e.g. rises in divorce). Given such changes there are concerns that the availability of family care for older people may decline just as the numbers needing it increase. Understanding how trends in family life may affect support and care is therefore a critical policy issue.
 
This research examined the relationship between the lifetime experience of family disruption (e.g. due to divorce, separation and death) and late late-life support in the UK. It investigated the association between family disruption and loss of support over time, and explored changes in the relationship between the experience of family disruption and support across cohorts. The project was based on secondary analysis of three different surveys, the British Household Panel Study (1991-2003), the British Retirement and Retirement Plans Survey (1988/89 and 1994), and the 1998 Indagine Multiscopo sulle Famiglie “Famiglia, soggetti sociali e condizione dell’infanzia” (Multipurpose Survey on Family and Childhood Conditions shortened to IMF).

Terms:
 
Disruptions in family life: separation/divorce, widowhood, remarriage (or new cohabitation), step-parenting
 
Disruptions in work life: dismissal, unemployment
 
Social support:
 

• structural characteristics of the social support network (number and proximity of relatives/friends)
• social embeddedness (frequency and nature of contact with others)
• perceived support (subjective evaluation of current and future availability/adequacy, of support)
• instrumental assistance (transfers of space, time and money)
• receipt of formal services (public or private)

1. Is there any relationship between disruptions family relationships, disrupted work life and social support among people aged 50 and over in 2001 in the UK? If so, how does it vary by gender, education, health status and other socio-economic factors?

• Data source: British Household Panel Survey (1991-2003)

 
2. Do older people in the UK experience a loss of social support following a marital or work disruption?

• Data source: British Household Panel Survey (1991-2003)

 
3. How does social support vary across selected birth cohorts of older people in Britain?

• Data sources: Survey of Retirement and Retirement Plans (1988/9), British Household Panel Survey (2001/3)

 
4. How does the association between disrupted family relationships and social support at older ages vary in different cultural and policy contexts?

• Data sources: British Household Panel Survey (1991-2003), Indagine Multiscopo sulle Famiglie "Famiglia, soggetti sociali e condizione dell'infanzia" (1998)

 

• There is considerable diversity in family experiences at older ages and this has increased over time.
 
• Family disruptions do not appear to have the detrimental association with late-life support that was expected. For example, in comparison to older mothers and fathers with a current partner, separated parents are more likely to receive support from children (and widows but not widowers).
 
• Despite the increase in family disruption over time support received from, and provided to, children has increased. The results show that the negative effect of family disruption on support in early old age appears to be weakening over time.
 
• Overall, the findings suggest that in the UK family support is activated in accordance with the older person’s need (e.g. health).
 

1. Glaser, K. (presenter), Askham, J., Tomassini, C., Stuchbury, R., and Tinker, A. (9 May 2007). Family support in later life: Implications for mental health services. Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free Hospital, London.
2. Glaser, K., Tomassini, C. (joint presenters) and Stuchbury, R. (29-31 March 2007) Differences over time in the relationship between family disruptions and support in early old age in Britain. Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America. New York, New York.
3. Tinker, A (presenter). (26 March 2007). What effect will an aging population have on the demand for technology? International Conference on Gerontology and Gerontechnology, Nan Kai Institute of Technology, Taiwan.
4. Tomassini, C. (presenter), Glaser, K., Stuchbury, R. (14-16 Feb 07) Instabilità matrimoniale e reti di sostegno in età anziana. Società Italiana di Statistica, Gruppo di Coordinamento per la Demografia, Giornate di Studio sulla Popolazione, VII Edizione, Latina, Facoltà di Economia Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
5. Glaser, K. (presenter) and Stuchbury, R. (18 October 2006). Do family disruptions have detrimental effect on late-life support in Britain? Institute of Gerontology Academic Seminar, King’s College London.
6. Glaser, K., Tomassini, C., Racioppi, F. Stuchbury, R. (presenter). (7-9 Sept 06) Marital disruptions and loss of support in the United Kingdom in later life. British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Bangor, Wales.
7. Glaser, K. and Tomassini, C. (presenter). (14 June 06) Family networks and support in later life: the perspective of the demographer. XLIII Scientific Meeting of the Italian Statistical Society: Turin, Italy.
8. Glaser, K. (presenter), Tomassini, C., Stuchbury, R., Racioppi, F. and Askham, J. (21-24 June 06 ) Family disruptions and support in later life: A Cross-national comparison. European Association for Population Studies Conference, Liverpool, UK.
9. Glaser, K., (presenter), Tomassini, C., Racioppi, F. and Stuchbury, R. (18-22 Nov 05) The relationship between marital transitions and loss of support in Britain. Annual Scientific Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, Florida.
10. Stuchbury, R. (presenter), Glaser, K., Tomassini, C. and Askham, A. (12-14 Sep 05) Relationship between disruptions in family (and work) life and social support at older ages in the United Kingdom. Annual meeting of the British Society for Population Studies, University of Kent at Canterbury.
11. Glaser, K. and Tomassini, C. (presenters) (5 July 05) Support for Older People: Data Needs and Issues, Dipartimento di Scienze Demografiche, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy. Part of a Visiting Professor Fellowship awarded by the University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
12. Stuchbury, R. (presenter), Glaser, K., Tomassini, C. and Askham, J. (30 June - 2 July 05) Married or single: which shall I tick? Findings from a study of BHPS marital status data. BHPS 2005 Conference, Colchester, UK.
13. Glaser, K.. (presenter), Tomassini, C., Stuchbury, R., Askham, J. and Tinker, A. (14 March 05). Disruptions in family and work life: implications for support in later life. Institute of Gerontology Academic Seminar, King’s College London.

1. Glaser, K., Tomassini, C., Racioppi, F. and Stuchbury, R. 2006. Marital disruptions and loss of support in late life: a longitudinal study of the United Kingdom. European Journal of Ageing, 3, 207-16.
2. Tomassini, C., Glaser, K. and Stuchbury, R. Partnership dissolution and support in later life: a comparative study between the United Kingdom and Italy. Forthcoming, Journal of Social Issues.
3. Glaser, K., Stuchbury, R., Tomassini, C. and Askham, J. The long-term consequences of family disruption for support in later life in the U.K. Revised and resubmitted, awaiting response.
4. Glaser, K., Tomassini, C. and Stuchbury, R. 2007. Differences over time in the relationship between family disruptions and support in early old age in Britain. Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, New York, New York (to be submitted).
5. Stuchbury, R., Glaser, K., Tomassini, C. and Askham, J. (2005) Married or single: which shall I tick? Findings from a study of BHPS marital status data. Working Paper, Conference, Colchester, UK http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/bhps/2005/download.php
6. Stuchbury, R. and Glaser, K (Working title: Children and family: the situation of older people yesterday and today) To be submitted.
7. Tinker, A., Glaser, K., and Stuchbury, R. Family support in later life – help to older people by their adult children. Submitted, awaiting response.
8. Tomassini, C, Glaser, K "Family networks and support in later life: The perspective of the demographer" in Proceedings of the XLIII Scientific Meeting of the Società Italiana di Statistica, pp. 169-180, Cleup, Padova, Italy, ISBN 88-7178-791-9.