A framework for analyses intothe dynamics of relationships within the family, the

generations and the genders;on the basis of GGP data

Jenny Gierveld

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

The Hague, the Netherlands

GGP, Spetses, May 2004

First phase:

descriptive analyses concerning those specific aspects of the GGS

data that are crucial for policy making in a country;

with or without contextual data

Next phase:

explanatory research projects to provide an in-depth understanding of the

processes that determine the current and envisaged future developments

And:

cross-national research, based on the data of the GGP-first-wave to

compare the situation in a specific country with

the trends, opportunities and restrictions of neighbouring countries

And after the second wave:

analyses will be possible that investigate and follow - on a panel basis –

the developments in the field, with a special eye for causal interrelationships between determinants and outcomes

Moreover, after the second wave:

analyses will be possible that investigate and follow - on a panel basis –

and cross-national (!)

the developments in the field, with a special eye for causal interrelationships between determinants and outcomes

To support countries the analysis w.g. will provide:

– ideas, proposals and guidelines for analyses

&– an overarching theoretical framework related

to the life course paradigm

Available at this moment:

A list of research topics with some preliminary specifications, such as: description and analyses of determinants of the current partner relationshippartner relationship (by gender and birth cohorts), a.o:

– duration of the partner relationship in relation to partner history

– intentions to breaking up current partner relationships, and expected changes in relation to current labour market position and income generating capacities of both partners

Available at this moment:

A list of research topics for description and analyses of determinants of work/care arrangements (by gender and birth cohorts):

• work/child care tasks and arrangements, and financial outcomes

• work/child care tasks and arrangements, by partnership history, and in relation to well-being of parents

A list of research topics for description and analyses of determinants of the current financial, and health situation of the situation of the population aged 55 and overpopulation aged 55 and over (by gender and birth cohorts):

• partner relationship quality and well-being of man and wife acc to financial situation of the household

• composition of families of older people and the transfers from older to younger, and from younger to older generations

Descriptive analyses, e.g.:Table 1.1 Types of living arrangements, by marital status and five year

birth cohorts (F/M respectively)(a) Per cent of respondents who live alone (no non-resident partner) by marital status(b) Per cent of respondents who live alone and have a not-resident partner (c) Per cent of respondents with co-resident spouse or partner (without others)(d) Per cent of respondents with co-resident spouse or partner, with children (no

others)(e) Per cent of respondents with co-resident spouse or partner, with children and

grandchildren (no others)(f) Per cent of respondents without co-resident spouse or partner, with children (no

others)(g) Per cent of respondents without co-resident spouse or partner, with children and

grandchildren (no others)(h) Per cent of respondents in other types of living

never married, married, divorced, widowed; total (%, n) birth cohorts: 1924-29 1930-34 1935-39 1940-44 1945-50

Table 1.2 Types of living arrangements, by partner history and five year birth cohorts (F/M respectively)

Partner history differentiated as follows:• no partner, never cohabited [ A]• with partner, first marriage [ M ]• with partner, higher order marriage; ever divorced; e.g., [M D M ] [M W

M D M] [M D M W M]• with partner, higher order marriage; widowed (never divorced); e.g., [M W

M] [M W M W M]• with partner, unmarried cohabitation [UC ]

and so on…….

• Table 1.3: Types of living arrangements and subjective income circumstances by marital status; per cent answering that household is able to make ends meet only ‘with difficulty’ or ‘with great difficulty’ (F/M

respectively)

• Table 1.4: Types of living arrangements by financial situation of the older persons, and familial transfers

(F/M respectively)

Example of a research proposal for

explanatory research

Partner status, financial position and familial embeddedness as determinants of living arrangements and well-being of persons aged 55 and over

Central research questions: 1. What can be said about the relationship between

partner status, income of the older person, familial embeddedness and living arrangements realized by older adults (a.o. co-residence)?

• What can be said about the relationships between the country’s old age pension and health care policies on the one hand and the living arrangements realized by older adults on the other?

• Does a change in health or in the familial embeddedness affect the risks of deteriorating quality of life for older adults in different living arrangements?

Conclusion:

– GGP encompasses a very rich data set– a rich data set allows for in-depth and high -

quality analyses– policyoriented and/or scientific research– descriptive, explanatory, longitudinal, and

cross-national analyses are welcommed– with special attention for differences between

the genders– with special attention for relationships between

the generations