Kin expectations and kin support among rural older adults

Relatively little attention has been given to the kin ties of rural older adults. To partially fill this gap in knowledge, kin selection theory was used as a conceptual framework to explore two questions on the extent rural older adults expect and receive assistance from the range of affinal and consanguineal kin and the factors that best explain the current level of support provided by each of the kin types in the family system. Analysis was based on interviews conducted in 1985-1986 with 368 rural older adults in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Expectations of kin assistance were much higher than the actual level of support that was provided. Both expected and actual levels of assistance declined as the level of consanguineous kin and associated affinal ties decreased. The level of support provided by kin groups was mainly a function of geographic distance to kin and norms of obligation