Chapter 7: Here to Stay? Intergenerational Spatial Proximity in Europe

In contemporary societies, families are still important institutions in which human beings live. As a consequence of major demographic changes such as increasing life expectancies and declining birthrates, ‘family relationships across several generations are becoming increasingly important’ (Bengtson, 2001, p. 1). Despite the consequences of demographic changes, the relations and bonds between familial generations remain impressively strong (for an overview, see Szydlik, 2016). Against the background of economic and societal crisis as well as broader socio-political uncertainties, cohesion seems to be still an important characteristic of parent–child relationships. Intergenerational support can be considered in different dimensions (see Bengtson & Roberts, 1991 for details). Alongside aspects of emotional closeness and affection (affective solidarity), the strength of the bond is also indicated by the frequency of contact and shared activities (associative solidarity). Supported by numerous empirical studies, the most striking aspect in contemporary societies seems to be the extent of functional solidarity, which is the giving and taking of money, time and space (for an overview of functional solidarity, see Szydlik, 2016).