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Abstract：
This study examined discrepancies in aging parents\' and middle-aged children\'s evaluations of aging parents\' problems and how these discrepancies were associated with relationship characteristics. Using data from the Family Exchanges Study (dyad N=331), discrepancies in the parents\' disabilities and life problems reported by parents and their offspring were examined. Children reported a greater number of disabilities and life problems in their parents\' lives than parents did. The discrepancy in the number of disabilities was associated with the frequency of phone contact, but not the frequency of in-person contact between generations. Findings confirm the gap in the evaluations of parents\' problems between generations, indicating that children may overestimate their parents\' problems, whereas parents may underreport their own problems. Frequent phone calls between aging parents and middle-aged children seem to play a positive role in conveying aging parents\' problems. The gap in knowledge of parents\' problems may lead to unmet needs and/or undesirable support exchanges between parents and offspring. Future research needs to consider both generations\' reports and to develop reliable methods to assess parents\' problems.
摘要：
这项研究调查了老年父母和中年儿童对老年父母问题的评估中的差异，以及这些差异如何与关系特征相关联。使用家庭交流研究的数据(dyadN=331)，检查了父母及其后代报告的父母残疾和生活问题的差异。与父母相比，儿童报告了更多的父母生活中的残疾和生活问题。残疾人数的差异与电话联络的频率有关,但不是几代人之间面对面接触的频率。调查结果证实了两代人之间对父母问题的评价差距，表明孩子可能高估了父母的问题，而父母可能会低估自己的问题。年迈的父母和中年儿童之间的频繁电话似乎在传达年迈的父母的问题中起着积极的作用。父母问题知识的差距可能导致父母和后代之间未满足的需求和/或不受欢迎的支持交流。未来的研究需要考虑两代人的报告，并开发可靠的方法来评估父母的问题。
