Leaving home, family support and intergenerational ties in Italy: Some regional differences

Elisabetta Santarelli; Francesco Cottone

doi:10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.1

Volume 21 - Article 1 | Pages 1–22

Leaving home, family support and intergenerational ties in Italy: Some regional differences

By Elisabetta Santarelli, Francesco Cottone

Date received:

8 Nov 2007

Date published:

3 Jul 2009

Word count:

6809

Keywords:

family ties, intergenerational proximity, intergenerational support, regional comparison

DOI:

10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.1

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Abstract

In Italy conditions at leaving home are characterized by high age at exit, high proximity with parents and widespread intergenerational support, showing important regional differences. According to the "familistic" approach such conditions spread from strong intergenerational ties. Proximity and support are considered proxies of ties’ strength so that different regional proximity and support correspond to different ties’ intensities.
The study aims at analyzing similarities and differences about parent-child ties, proximity and support in selected Italian regions, Liguria, Umbria, Sicily and Sardinia. Results show important differences among regions with respect to proximity and support, suggesting different intensity of intergenerational ties.