Family structure and the status of the elderly: a preliminary empirical study

Journal of Comparative Family Studies • Vol/Iss. 10 • Published In 1979 • Pages: 429-443 •

By Lee, Gary R., Kezis, Mindy

Abstract

This article examines the status of the elderly cross-culturally, proposing that familial complexity, unlineal descent, and unilocal residence are predictors of high status. The authors theorize that elderly male status will be highest in patrilineal and patrilocal societies; elderly female status will be highest in matrilineal and matrilocal societies. Some support is found for these patterns, but the authors ultimately regard them as too simple to adequately predict status of the elderly.

Samples
Sample Used	Coded Data	Comment
HRAF Collection of Ethnography (paper/fiche)
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)

Hypotheses (3)
Hypothesis	Supported
The status of the elderly will be positively associated with familial structural complexity (432).	Partially supported
The status of the elderly will be positively associated with unlineal descent, with a patrilineal system predicting high elderly male status and a matrilineal system predicting high elderly female status (432).	Partially supported
The status of the elderly will be positively associated with unilocal residence, with a patrilocal system predicting high elderly male status and a matrilocal system predicting high elderly female status (432).	Partially supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings Amelia Piazza

Family structure and the status of the elderly: a preliminary empirical study

Journal of Comparative Family Studies • Vol/Iss. 10 • Published In 1979 • Pages: 429-443 • Cite

By Lee, Gary R., Kezis, Mindy

Abstract

Samples

Hypotheses (3)

Journal of Comparative Family Studies • Vol/Iss. 10 • Published In 1979 • Pages: 429-443 •