Uncovering Hidden Kin: Cross-National Evidence from Kinmatrix

Lisa Jessee , University of Cologne
Lea Ellwardt, Universität zu Köln
Thomas Leopold, University of Cologne

Family relationships are central to individuals’ lives, yet demographic shifts, such as rising divorce rates, remarriages, and parent–child estrangement, may weaken connections to extended relatives. In some cases, this may lead to hidden kin: family members whose existence is known but whose name or living status is unknown, and with whom no contact or support is exchanged. The prevalence of hidden kin likely varies across societies, depending on rates of divorce, remarriage, estrangement, and prevailing levels of familialism. Against this background, this study examines the prevalence of hidden kin across countries and different kin types (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, half-siblings). We draw on cross-national data from the KINMATRIX survey (N = 11,911 anchors; N = 240,156 dyads), covering nine European countries (UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands) as well as the U.S. Hidden kin were identified when either the name, the living status, or both were unknown. Our analyses reveal the highest prevalence of hidden kin in Denmark, Finland, the U.S., and the UK, and, as expected, the lowest prevalence in more familialistic contexts such as Italy and Poland. Results further indicate distinct patterns across kin types and countries. While in most countries hidden kin are most common among paternal and maternal grandfathers and cousins, in Italy, Poland, and Germany, the highest prevalence is found among paternal half-siblings. Overall, the findings highlight how cross-cultural differences shape knowledge gaps within family networks and, in turn, influence individuals’ access to family-based social capital.

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 Presented in Session P8. Demographic Trends, History, Data and Methods