The Gerontologist, Vol 32, Issue 2 213-218, Copyright © 1992 by The Gerontological Society of America
Gender differences in adult child contact among black elderly parents
G Spitze and S Miner
Department of Sociology, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222.
Using data on 575 black respondents from a national probability sample
survey conducted in 1984, we examined gender differences in levels of
contact with children among black middle-aged and elderly persons, and in
the determinants of that contact. Men, especially those who live alone,
experienced substantially fewer visits and phone calls per year than did
women. This difference was not explained by controls for variables
measuring needs, resources, and child availability. The process determining
contact with children, however, appeared to be highly similar for men and
women, with the exception of the effect of living alone. This effect was
related to marital status and may reflect differences in history of living
arrangements with children.
