Intergenerational Religious Discordance and Relationship Quality Between Older Parents and Adult Children

TL;DR

This study explores how religious differences between older parents and adult children affect their relationship quality.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel approach to measure religious discordance across four dimensions and its impact on family relationships.

Findings

Religious discordance is linked to reduced emotional closeness and increased conflict between parents and adult children.

Denominational differences and marriage outside the family's religion are associated with strained relationships.

Frequency of contact and emotional support are affected by differences in religious practice and belief.

Abstract

In this analysis we examined intergenerational religious discordance and its association with emotional closeness, conflict, frequency of contact, and emotional support exchanged between older parents and their adult children. We considered discordance as absolute difference scores in four dimensions of religiosity: denomination, intensity, frequency of service attendance, and belief in God. Data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations collected in 2016 and 2022 were used in four sub-samples of dyads: 157 mother-son, 180 mother-daughter, 124 father-son, and 113 father-daughter dyads. The results of this analysis will pinpoint whether adverse impacts of religious differences between older parents and their middle-aged adult children have their basis in denominational identification, congregational practice, self-concept, or deistic beliefs. A sub-analysis focuses on whether children have more strained relationships with their parents if they married outside their parents’ religious denomination.