# The temporal variations in the distribution of filial support from adult children to their aging parents across Europe and Israel

## TL;DR

This study examines how adult children's support for aging parents changes over time in Europe and Israel, finding regional differences in support stability and intensity.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel application of latent Markov models to analyze longitudinal filial support patterns across multiple European countries and Israel.

## Key findings

- Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Denmark, and the Czech Republic show higher stability in filial support over time.
- Greece, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Israel, Sweden, and Poland exhibit fluctuating levels of filial support.
- Western and Northern countries tend to provide moderate or intense support, while Southern and Eastern countries may reach very intense support levels.

## Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the temporal changes in the support provided by adult children to their ageing parents, including paperwork help, household help, and personal care, and its intensity, ranging from no support to very intense support. We used latent Markov models to assess filial support transitions. Analysing data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) covering 13 European countries and Israel between 2004 and 2022, we identified two types of filial support: stable and fluctuating. Our findings indicate that Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Denmark, and the Czech Republic have a higher probability of maintaining stable filial support levels over the years. In contrast, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Israel, Sweden, and Poland exhibit fluctuating filial support. Additionally, Western and Northern countries, such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany, tend to reach only moderate or intense support levels. In comparison, Southern and Eastern countries, like Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Poland, provide support that can reach very intense levels.