Publication

Reference

@article{Conkova2019a,
  author = {Nina Conkova and Russell King},
  title = {Non-kin ties as a source of support amongst older adults ‘left behind’ in Poland: a quantitative study on the role of geographic distance},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {Ageing & Society },
  volume = {39},
  number = {6},
  pages = {1255-1280},
  month = {Jun},
  url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/F2AB8D5BABFC6CC32C89FFFC5198DE9F/S0144686X17001507a.pdf/div-class-title-non-kin-ties-as-a-source-of-support-amongst-older-adults-left-behind-in-poland-a-quantitative-study-on-the-role-of-geographic-distance-div.pdf},
  timestamp = {11.06.2019},
  abstract = {In  the  transition  to  democracy  and  a  market  economy,  the  Central  and  EasternEuropean countries experienced rapid and fundamental changes. Large-scale emi-grationflows  and  pronounced  reductions  in  previously  universal  welfare  systemsincreased the phenomenon of‘left behind’older adults. We examine this phenom-enon in the case of Poland, a rather family-oriented society which in recent years sentmost emigrants to Western Europe in absolute terms. Employing a support systemframework and representative  survey data, we enquire into  older adults’supportpatterns.  Our  results  suggest  that  older  adults  in  Poland  rely  predominantly  onfamily  support,  although  this  varies  greatly  across  living  arrangements.  We  alsofind  a  positive  association  between  distance  separating  parents  and  their  closestchild, and support from at least one non-kin. Yet, ourfindings reveal differencesbetween practical and emotional support, with the latter being more likely to beprovided  by  non-kin,  but  with  distance  mattering  to  a  lesser  degree.  Parentswith  very  distant  child(ren)  are  few  and  differ  only  from  parents  with  veryproximate   child(ren),   afinding   prompting   the   question   as   to   what   is   thedifference between being‘left behind’by international and by internal migration.We conclude that the phenomenon of‘left behind’in Poland, at least in terms ofsupport, is less a matter of children’s migration and more an issue of householdand regional context.}
}