Kinship in midlife: Evidence from a new survey on nuclear and extended kin solidarity in Italy

Marco Tosi , University of Padua

Scholarly interest in kinship has grown over the past decade, yet most studies have focused on the number of living relatives, often assuming that their existence guarantees support and cohesion. This paper examines kinship solidarity - encompassing geographical proximity, contact frequency, emotional closeness, and support exchanges - among middle-aged Italians, considering both nuclear (parents, children) and extended (siblings, nephews/nieces, uncles/aunts, cousins) ties. Using data from an ad-hoc web-based survey of 5,601 respondents aged 45–65, I apply multilevel random-intercept linear probability models to analyze patterns of kinship solidarity. Results show that solidarity declines with genealogical distance, with siblings occupying an intermediate position between nuclear and extended kin. Three exceptions modify this hierarchy: sibling conflict is more common than expected; cousins rank lowest on most dimensions but not in support exchanges; and while economic support typically flows from parents to children, practical support moves in the opposite direction. Moreover, the probability of receiving practical support from both nuclear and extended kin is higher among those with mental or physical limitations, whereas the economic support of needed adults is confined to parents, children, and siblings. The absence of parents is associated with stronger ties to uncles/aunts and cousins, while childlessness is associated with more frequent contact, closeness, and support exchanges with siblings and nephews. Overall, the findings highlight the compensatory role of extended family and the broader kinship network as a safety net in middle adulthood.

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 Presented in Session 11. Intergenerational Proximity, Living Arrangements and Kin Ties Across Societies