Norms and care relationships in transnational families: The case of elderly parents left behind in Lithuania

Abstract

In the context of high migration rates and limited formal care support for the elderly the paper deals with normative expectations and actual flows of support in Lithuanian transnational families. The study is based on a representative survey of elderly parents who have at least one migrant child (N=305). The data analysis revealed predominance of familistic attitudes towards filial responsibilities in transnational families. We did not find any significant differences in filial expectations between the two types of transnational families (elderly parents having only migrant children and those with both migrant and non-migrant children). High expectations of elderly parents are not being met in regards to face-to-face and virtual contacts with migrant adult children. The differences in provided/received emotional support between migrant and non-migrant children were insignificant. However, the data revealed significant differences in provided/received financial support between migrant and non-migrant children.