Family Solidarity in Context: Filial Obligation and Family Support in a Cross-National Comparison Perspective.

Souleymane Sanogo , University of Geneva, Institute of demography and Socioeconomics
Clémentine Rossier, University of Geneva, Institute of demography and Socioeconomics
Matthias Studer, Université de Genève and NCCR-LIVES
Marlène Sapin, Université de Lausanne

Unlike previous cross-cultural comparisons, our study analyses variations in family solidarity between countries on both aggregate and individual levels. We re-examine the associations between adherence to filial obligation and family support. Comparing "traditionalist" to "individualist" countries across four types of daily needs, we ask whether in the latter adherence to filial obligation and family support practices are weaker. Using International Social Survey Programme microdata from 29 countries worldwide, we described the link between adherence to filial obligation and family support. Second, we applied a meta-analytical to investigate the moderating role of cultural values on variations in the effect of filial obligation on family support. At country-level, we find that the higher traditional values, the stronger the filial obligation, and the greater the reliance on family for help with feeling down, or advice for family problems. However, for care in case of illness or domestic help, the family is the first source of support whatever the degree of traditional values and the strength of filial obligation in the country concerned. At individual level, we show that, while weaker in individualist contexts, filial obligation remains predictive of family support for all needs in each cultural context; it is even more binding for emotional needs in individualist contexts. Overall, our results suggest that family remains prominent as a support source in all societies, but family for support depends on both the types of need and cultures. We confirm and extend previous cross-cultural studies on family solidarity.

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 Presented in Session 62. Family Diversity and Wellbeing