Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 214-240.

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One-Sided Demands or Mutual Needs? Combination of Needs and Parent-Child Choices in Inter-Generational Cohabitation

TAO Tao1, ZHONG Yuqi2, HUANG Jingyi2   

  1. 1. Center for Populationand Development Studies，Renmin University of China;
    2. School ofSociology and Population Studies，Renmin University of China)E-mail：zingyee@ruc.edu.cn
  • Online:2022-11-20 Published:2022-12-29
  • Supported by:
    This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities，and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China(14XNI003).

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Abstract: Changes in family living arrangements have accompanied China’s transition to modernization. The aim of this study is to explore the choice mechanism driven by the needs of both parents and children behind the seemingly homogeneous inter-generational cohabitation of different families. Based on the data from the 2018 China Elderly Longitudinal Social Survey, this study delves into the need and choice mechanisms of elderly parents and adult children living together， explores the heterogeneity in inter-generational cohabitation and the inter- generational interactions under ever changing inter-generational relationships. It further analyses the two dimensions of gender and birth order of adult children in different types of inter-generational cohabitation. The results show that， in terms of intergenerational co-living needs， cooperative cohabitation occupies the primary position in China， followed by nurturing cohabitation based on pure offspring needs， and then supportive cohabitation based on pure parental needs. The proportion of alienated cohabitation in which both generations are not in need is the least. The main theme of inter-generational cohabitation in China today is a shift in the centre of gravity and a strong emphasis on reciprocity. There are differences in the logic of inter-generational reciprocity between urban and rural areas. Rural parents place more emphasis on economic needs while urban parents place more emphasis on living needs. The demand of children in both rural and urban is led by housing needs. In terms of inter-generational cohabitation mechanisms， sons are still the preferred choice for inter-generational cohabitation. However， daughters are more likely to take on the responsibility of supporting parents， especially in rural area. Younger siblings in rural areas are more likely to enjoy help from their parents in inter-generational cohabitation and are also more likely to take on the responsibility of supporting parents. In short， change and continuity have always presented in Chinese society， and tradition and modernity are both rooted in Chinese family life.

Key words: inter-generational cohabitation, inter-generational relation, inter-generational responsibility, child gender, child ranking