Older Parent–Child Relations in Remote Areas: New Insights on Intergenerational Ties and Support Networks in Italy

Abstract

Italy has stronger intergenerational support networks and more frequent exchanges than other European countries, with little variation over time. Although regional and urban-rural differences in relations between older parents and their children have been studied, the impact of municipal remoteness in terms of distance from essential services and accessibility remains largely unknown. Using official ISTAT classification of municipality remoteness and data from four waves of the Italian survey “Famiglie e Soggetti Sociali” (1998, 2003, 2009, 2016), we investigated the association between proximity and face-to-face contact with the remoteness of the municipalities in which older parents reside. Our results shed new light on the geographical impact on intergenerational ties and support networks, showing that co-residence is less common in remote areas. Furthermore, older parents residing in remote areas appear to have less frequent contact with their children. This persistent geographical divide, coupled with population ageing, risks exacerbating the vulnerability of older parents in remote areas, given their limited access to formal care infrastructures. These results underscore the need for policymakers to design new strategies that adequately address the future challenges of population ageing.