A Social Psychological Perspective: Intergenerational care among ethnic majority and ethnic minority  families with focus on the South Asian Diaspora in Denmark

This paper investigates intergenerational care in family life in Denmark. It compares different patterns of care between three groups of families: 1) Monoethnic Danish Families (n=701), 2) Monoethnic South Asian Families (n =5) and 3) Multiethnic Families (n=15). Through the use of network analysis and a longitudinal approach, differences and similarities in practices of care are identified.

The care patterns are studied with a focus on young adults age 30-35. Quantitative as well as qualitative methods are employed. By utilising in-depth qualitative interview data the paper explores the interplay between institutionalised individualism and interconnectedness. The focus is on the vertical and horizontal relationships within the socio-cultural psychological framework combining positioning theory with the  life course perspectives. Moreover there is focus on the diaspora processes for the South Asian young adults.

The paper analyses the discourses of intergenerational care as they intersect with everyday life practices and psychological realities of persons. The results indicate changes in the care pattern and deals with the dilemmas of solidarity, which are in contrast to dominant discourses of generations and genders.

The findings challenge the stereotypes regarding young adults’ intergenerational care patterns. It is concluded that these stereotypes overplay interdependence among the monoethnic South Asian families and underplay interdependence among the monoethnic Danish families. Furthermore interplay of agency with the changing societal structures and the diaspora context is confirmed.

Key words: intergenerational care, individualisation, social network analysis, socio-cultural psychology, modernisation