The Implications of Intergenerational Relationships for Minority Aging: a Review of Recent Literature.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This study aims to understand how intergenerational relationships impact minority aging in the USA. We reviewed studies published in the last 5 years that examine both familial and non-familial intergenerational relationships.

Recent findings: Intergenerational relationships can have positive and negative implications for minority aging. Minority older adults benefit most from these relationships when they increase social interaction and/or offer social support by reducing acculturative stress, providing emotional closeness, or increasing access to tangible resources. At the same time, these relationships can be sources of strain as they lead to burden among already disadvantaged groups.

Summary: Future studies should explore the impact of intergenerational relations among more diverse subgroups of older adults and identify mechanisms linking intergenerational relationships to health-related outcomes among minority older adults. Further, longitudinal cohort studies and randomized trials are needed to test mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of promising intergenerational interventions.