Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows a growing trend of adult children returning to traditional values by financially supporting their elderly parents. In 2020, approximately 4.3 million American adults provided economic assistance to their parents, nearly equal to the number of parents who financially supported their children.
This shift in family dynamics and sense of responsibility indicates that adults are not only taking on the responsibility of raising their own children but also fulfilling the obligation of supporting their aging parents.
The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) by the U.S. Census Bureau is a long-term tool for observing the economic status and social welfare participation of American families, often referred to as a “microscope” for understanding American family economics.
In 2020, around 2.4 million American parents received $17.5 billion in economic support from their adult children, with an average of over $2,000 per person in parental support (median of $3,749).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the spending on parental support by adult children was $10 billion less compared to the peak in 2018, but the total expenditure remained substantial.
According to Share America, a website under the State Department, adult children providing support to their parents has diverse implications in a multicultural society like the United States where family concepts vary across cultures. The notion of supporting parents differs among adults of different cultural backgrounds.
SIPP data shows that the practice of supporting parents is more prevalent in immigrant or immigrant families. In Asian households, financially supporting parents is often considered an essential step in adulthood. Similarly, Latinx immigrant families also commonly provide economic support to their parents, who often lack retirement benefits and rely on their children for financial support.
Cultural background plays a significant role in this trend. Asians have a strong culture of filial piety, making it common for them to financially support their parents. Latinx families also prioritize family values and kinship ties, leading to the common practice of supporting parents. African Americans emphasize intergenerational solidarity and mutual assistance. In contrast, white Americans tend to value independence and emphasize personal autonomy and reliance on government welfare systems.
SIPP data further reveals that nearly 70% of elderly care is provided by adult daughters, transcending ethnic, immigrant, and cultural backgrounds. These women not only offer continuous economic assistance to their parents but also balance their children’s education, becoming the epitome of “family pillars.”
Many adult daughters in these families adjust or pause their careers to take on responsibilities of medical caregiving and emotional support for their family members.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, over 75% of Americans believe that adult children have a responsibility to provide economic support to their parents when needed, underscoring a sentiment that transcends political parties and ideologies. Driven by love and duty, more Americans are choosing to support their parents to the best of their ability, expressing gratitude to the previous generation and cherishing family ties.