Exploring family ties: ageing parents and their midlife children. A scoping review

In an era of extended adult lifespans, interactions between ageing parents and middle-aged children become increasingly common. This review, spanning June to August 2023, examines the themes, concepts, approaches and methodologies employed in the last decade to study this dynamic. Extracting data from five databases, the search yielded 22 reviewed articles. Findings underline scarcity of primary, qualitative and longitudinal studies delving into diverse topics beyond intergenerational support/care. Furthermore, they point to the lack of comprehensive approaches that consider individual, family and contextual factors from the perspectives of all parties involved. Additionally, findings highlight the importance of establishing consensus among researchers on how to define generations, paving the way for future comparative investigations. This comprehensive analysis illuminates the evolving landscape of ageing parent and middle-aged child relationships, emphasising the need for nuanced and inclusive research strategies.