Within-Family Differences Study 
 

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Journal Articles


 

Hou, Yifei, J. Jill Suitor, and Megan Gilligan. 2023. “Intergenerational Transmission of Relationship Quality in Later-Life Families.”  Journal of Marriage and Family 85(2):539-555. PDF

 
 

Rurka, Marissa, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, and Robert T. Frase. 2023. “How Do Own and Siblings' Genders Shape Caregivers' Risk of Perceiving Care-Related Criticism from Siblings?” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 78(3):520-531. PDF

 
 

Frase, Robert T., Shawn Bauldry, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, and Destiny Ogle. 2023. "Adult Children’s Education and Mothers’ Psychological Well-Being: Do Adult Children’s Problems Mediate this Relationship?" Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 78(3):496-505. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Reilly Kincaid, Yifei Hou, Catherine Stepniak, and Siyun Peng. 2022. “How Widowhood and Gender Shape the Impact of Maternal Favoritism on Adult Children’s Psychological Well-Being.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 77(1):224-236. PDF

 
 

Stepniak, Catherine, J. Jill Suitor, and Megan Gilligan. 2022. “Mothers’ Functional Limitations and Relationship Quality with Adult Children: Exploring the Moderating Roles of Race and Gender.” Research on Aging 44(5-6):414-425. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, and Karl Pillemer. 2022. "Patterns and Processes of Intergenerational Estrangement: A Qualitative Study of Mother-Adult Child Relationships Across Time." Research on Aging 44(5-6):436-447. PDF

 
 

Kincaid, Reilly, Marissa Rurka, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, Karl Pillemer, Liam Mohebbi, and Nicholas Mundell. 2021. “Prodigal Children: How Reformed Deviants Become Mothers’ Favorite Children in Adulthood.”  Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 77(7):1325-1335. PDF

 
 

Rurka, Marissa, J. Jill Suitor, and Megan Gilligan. 2021. “The Caregiver Identity in Context: Consequences of Identity Threat from Siblings.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 76(8):1593-1604. (Selected as Editor’s Choice article in the October 2021 issue.) PDF

 
 

Peng, Siyun, J. Jill Suitor, and Megan Gilligan. 2021. “Maternal Differential Treatment and Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Marital Tension and Sibling Tension?” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 76(2):370-379. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Marissa Rurka, and Yifei Hou. 2020. “Role of Ego’s and Siblings’ Perceptions of Maternal Favoritism in Adult Children’s Depressive Symptoms: A Within-Family Network Approach.” Network Science 8(2):271-289. PDF

 
 

Peng, Siyun, Shawn Bauldry, Megan Gilligan, and J. Jill Suitor. 2019. "Older Mother's Health and Adult Children's Education: Conceptualization of Adult Children's Education and Mother-Child Relationships" SSM-Population Health. PDF

 
 

Con, Gulcin, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, and Marissa Rurka. 2019. “Adult Children’s Perceptions of Maternal Favoritism During Caregiving: Comparisons Between Turkey and the U.S."  Research on Aging 41(2):139-163. PDF

 
 

Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, and Andres Losada Baltar. 2019. "Ambivalence, Families, and Care." International Journal of Care and Caring 3(1):9-22. PDF

   
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Marissa Rurka, Siyun Peng, Jordan Meyer, and Karl Pillemer. 2019. "Accuracy of Adults Children's Perceptions of Mothers' Caregiver Preferences." The Gerontologist 59(3):528-537. PDF

   
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Marissa Rurka, Siyun Peng, Gulcin Con, and Karl Pillemer. 2018. "Conflict with Mothers and Siblings During Caregiving: Differential Costs for Black and White Adult Children." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 73(7): e86-e97. PDF

 
 

Peng, Siyun, J. Jill Suitor, and Megan Gilligan. 2018. "The Long Arm of Maternal Differential Treatment: Effects of Recalled and Current Favoritism on Adult Children's Psychological Well-Being." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 73(6):1123-1132. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Karl Pillemer, Karen L. Fingerman, Kyungmin Kim, Merril Silverstein, and Vern L. Bengtson. 2018. "Applying Within-Family Differences Approaches to Enhance Understanding of the Complexity of Intergenerational Relations."  Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 73(1):40-53. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Siyun Peng, Jong Hyun Jung, and Karl Pillemer. 2017. "Role of Perceived Maternal Favoritism and Disfavoritism in Adult Children's Psychological Well-Being." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 72(6):1054-1066. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, Sangbo Nam, Brianna Routh, Marissa Rurka, and Gulcin Con. 2017. "Family Networks and Psychological Well-Being in Midlife." Social Sciences 6(94). PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, Marissa Rurka, Gulcin Con, and Karl Pillemer. 2017. "Adult Children’s Serious Health Conditions and the Flow of Support Between the Generations" The Gerontologist 57(2):179–190. PDF

 
 

Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, Catherine Riffin, and Megan Gilligan. 2017. "Adult Children’s Problems and Mothers’ Well-Being: Does Parental Favoritism Matter?" Research on Aging 39(3):375–395. PDF

 
 

Pillemer, Karl, Catherine Riffin, J. Jill Suitor, Siyun Peng, and Cary Reid. 2017. "The Impact of Older Parents' Pain Symptoms on Adult Children?" Pain Medicine 18(12):2316-2324. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Siyun Peng, Gulcin Con, Marissa Rurka, and Karl Pillemer. 2016. "My Pride and Joy? Predicting Favoritism and Disfavoritism in Mother-Adult Child Relations." Journal of Marriage and Family 78(4):908-925. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, and Karl Pillemer. 2015. “Estrangement Between Mothers and Adult Children: The Role of Norms and Values.” Journal of Marriage and Family 77(4):908-920. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, Scott Feld, and Karl Pillemer. 2015. “Do Positive Feelings Hurt? Disaggregating Positive and Negative Components of Intergenerational Ambivalence.” Journal of Marriage and Family 77(1):261-276. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, and Sangbo Nam. 2015. “Maternal Differential Treatment in Later Life Families and Within-Family Variations in Adult Sibling Closeness.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 70(1):166-177. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Kaitlin Johnson, and Karl Pillemer. 2014. “Caregiving, Perceptions of Maternal Favoritism, and Tension among Siblings.” The Gerontologist 54(4):580-588.  PDF

 
 

Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2014. “Who Provides Care? A Prospective Study of Caregiving Among Adult Children.” The Gerontologist 54(4):589-598. PDF

 
 

Sechrist, Jori, J. Jill. Suitor, A. Howard, and K. Pillemer. 2014. “Perceptions of Equity, Balance of Support Exchange, and Mother-Adult Child Relations." Journal of Marriage and Family 76(2):285-299. PDF

 
 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Kaitlin Johnson, and Karl Pillemer. 2014. "How Widowhood Shapes Adult Children’s Responses to Mothers’ Preferences for Care." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 69(1):95-102. PDF

 
 

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, Seoyoun Kim, and Karl Pillemer. 2013. “Differential Effects of Perceptions of Mothers' and Fathers' Favoritism on Sibling Tension in Adulthood.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 68(4):593-598. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2013. “Continuity and Change in Mothers’ Favoritism toward Offspring in Adulthood.” Journal of Marriage and Family 75(5):1229–1247. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2013. “The Role of Violated Caregiver Preferences in Psychological Well-Being when Older Mothers Need Assistance.” The Gerontologist 53(3):388-396. PDF

 

Fingerman, Karen, Karl Pillemer, Merril Silverstein, and J. Jill Suitor. 2012. "The Baby Boomers' Intergenerational Relationships." The Gerontologist 52(2):199-209. PDF

 

Pillemer, Karl, Christin L. Munsch, Thomas Fuller-Rowell, Catherine Riffin, and J. Jill Suitor. 2012. “Ambivalence Toward Adult Children: Differences Between Mothers and Fathers.” Journal of Marriage and Family 74(5):1101-1113. PDF

 

Riffin, Catherine, J. Jill Suitor, M. C. Reid, and Karl Pillemer. 2012. “Chronic Pain and Parent–Child Relations in Later Life: An Important, but Understudied Issue.” Family Science 3(2):75-85. PDF

 

Sechrist, Jori, J. Jill Suitor, Catherine. Riffin, Kadari Taylor-Watson, and Karl Pillemer. 2011. “Race and Older Mothers' Differentiation: A Sequential Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.” Journal of Family Psychology 25(6):837-846. PDF

 

Sechrist, Jori, J. Jill Suitor, Nicholas Vargas, and Karl Pillemer. 2011. “The Role of Religious Similarity in the Quality of Parent-Child Relations: Differences Within Families and Between Races.” Research on Aging 33:3-27. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2011. “Conceptualizing and Measuring Intergenerational Ambivalence in Later Life.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 66:769-781. PDF

 

Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, Seth T. Pardo, and Charles Henderson, Jr. 2010. "Mothers’ Differentiation and Depressive Symptoms among Adult Children." Journal of Marriage and Family 72(2):333-345. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, Mari Plikuhn, Seth T. Pardo, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2009. “The Role of Maternal Favoritism in Sibling Relations in Midlife.” Journal of Marriage and Family 71(4):1026-1038. PDF

 

Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2008. “Collective Ambivalence: Considering New Approaches to the Complexity of Intergenerational Relations.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 63(6):S394-S398. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, Mari Plikuhn, Seth T. Pardo, and Karl Pillemer. 2008. “Within-Family Differences in Parent-Child Relations Across the Life Course.” Current Directions in Psychological Science 17(5):334-338. PDF

 

Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, Steven E. Mock, Myra Sabir, and Jori Sechrist. 2007. “Capturing the Complexity of Intergenerational Relations: Exploring Ambivalence within Later-Life Families.” Journal of Social Issues 63(4):775-791. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, and Karl Pillemer. 2007. “Within-Family Differences in Mothers’ Support to Adult Children in Black and White Families.” Research on Aging 29:410-435. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, and Karl Pillemer. 2007. “Mothers’ Favoritism in Later Life: The Role of Children’s Birth Order.” Research on Aging 29(5):32-55. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, and Karl Pillemer. 2007. “When Mothers Have Favorites: Conditions under Which Mothers Differentiate among Their Adult Children.” Canadian Journal on Aging 26(2):85-99. PDF

 

Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2006. “Making Choices: A Within-Family Study of Caregiver Selection.” The Gerontologist 46(4):439-448. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, Michael Steinhour, and Karl Pillemer. 2006. “‘I’m Sure She Chose Me!’ Consistency in Intergenerational Reports of Mothers’ Favoritism in Later-Life Families.” Family Relations 55(5):526-538. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, and Karl Pillemer. 2006. “Choosing Daughters: Exploring Why Mothers Favor Adult Daughters over Sons.” Sociological Perspectives 49(2):139-161. PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Karl Pillemer, and Jori Sechrist. 2006. “Within-Family Differences in Mothers’ Support to Adult Children.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 61:S10-S17.  PDF

 

Suitor, J. Jill, and Karl Pillemer. 2000. "Did Mom Really Love You Best? Developmental Histories, Status Transitions, and Parental Favoritism in Later Life Families." Motivation and Emotion 24:105-120. PDF

   

 


Selected Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Contributions


Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Destiny Ogle, Robert T. Frase, Reilly Kincaid, and Catherine Stepniak. In press. “Respondent Uncertainty in Troubled Times: The Role of Mixed Methods in Studying Respondents’ Deliberations Regarding Intergenerational Relations.” In The Handbook on Intergenerational Relations, edited by M. Albertini. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing House. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Yifei Hou, Catherine Stepniak, Robert T. Frase, and Destiny Ogle. 2022. “Parent-Adult Child Ties and Older Adult Health and Well-Being.” In Oxford Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. NY: Oxford University Press. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, and Megan Gilligan. 2022. “Applying Mixed-Method Designs to the Study of Family Relations.” Pp. 653-672 in Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methodologies, edited by K. Adamson, A. Few-Demo, C. Proulx and K. Roy. NY: Springer. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Peng, Siyun, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, and Yifei Hou. 2019. “Favoritism/Differential Treatment." Pp. 617-619 in Macmillan Encyclopedia of Intimate and Family Relationships: An Interdisciplinary Approach, edited by J. J. Ponzetti. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Marissa Rurka, Yifei Hou, and Gulcin Con. 2019. “Social Gerontology Theories: Past, Present, and Future.” In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Psychology and Aging, edited by N. Anderson, S.D. Neupert, N. Pachana, and H.W. Wahl. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Peng, Siyun, Merril Silverstein, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, Woosang Hwang, Sangbo Nam, and Brianna Routh. 2018. “Use of Communication Technology to Maintain Intergenerational Contact: Toward an Understanding of ‘Digital Solidarity.’” Pp. 157-177 in Connecting Families? Information & Communication Technologies in a Life Course, edited by C. Casimiro, and B. Neves. Bristol, UK: Policy Press. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Rurka, Marissa, J. Jill Suitor, Megan Gilligan, Siyun Peng, Gulcin Con, and Yifei Hou. 2018. "Continuity and Change in Adult Children’s Perceptions of Maternal Favoritism: Consequences for Relationships With Siblings In Midlife.” Pp. 239-255 in The Psychology of Rivalry, edited by S. Hart and N. A. Jones. NY: Nova Press. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, Siyun Peng, and Marissa Rurka. 2018. “How Much Can Be Expected of One Child? Consequences of Multiplexity of Mothers’ Favoritism on Adult Children’s Psychological Well-Being.” Pp. 263-281 in Together Through Time: Social Networks and the Life Course, edited by D.F. Alwin, D.H. Felmlee, and D.A. Kreager. NY: Springer. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, and Siyun Peng. 2018. "Homophily." In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development. CA: Thousand Oaks.(Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Gulcin Con, and Marissa Rurka. 2018. "Adult Children." In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development, edited by M.H. Bornstein. CA: Thousand Oaks. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Gulcin Con, and Megan Gilligan. 2015. “Mixed Methods.” In Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging, edited by S.K. Whitbourne. NY: Wiley-Blackwell. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Gulcin Con, Kaitlin Johnson, Siyun Peng, and Megan Gilligan. 2015. “Parent-Child Relations.” In Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging. NY: Wiley-Blackwell. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

 

Suitor, J. Jill, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2015. “Stability, Change, and Complexity in Later Life Families.” Pp. 205-226 in Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences, 8th Edition, edited by L.K. George and K.F. Ferraro. NY: Elsevier/Academic. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Gilligan, Megan, J. Jill Suitor, and Karl Pillemer. 2013. “Recent Economic Distress in Midlife: Consequences for Adult Children’s Relationships with their Mothers.” Pp. 159-184 in Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Volume 7: Visions of the 21st Century Family—Transforming Structures and Identities, edited by P.N. Claster and S.L. Blair. Bingley, UK: Emerald. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, and Karl Pillemer. 2013. “Differences in Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parental Favoritism in Later-Life: A Within-Family Analysis.” Pp. 11-31 In From Generation to Generation: Continuity and Discontinuity in Aging Families, edited by M. Silverstein and R. Giarrusso. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Sechrist, Jori, J. Jill Suitor, Karl Pillemer, Megan Gilligan, Abigail R. Howard, and Shirley A. Keeton. 2012. “Aging Parents and Adult Children: Determinants of Relationship Quality.” Pp. 153-181 in Handbook on Families and Aging, edited by R. Blieszner and V. Bedford. NY: Praeger. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, Megan Gilligan, and Karl Pillemer. 2011. “Intergenerational Relations in Later-Life Families.” Pp. 161-178 in Handbook of Sociology of Aging, edited by R. Settersten and J. Angel. NY: Springer. (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2008. “Intergenerational Support, Care, and Relationship Quality in Later Life: Exploring Within- Family Differences." Pp. 195-232 In Intergenerational Caregiving, edited by A. Booth et al.. Washington, D. C.: Urban Institute Press.  (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Pillemer, Karl, Katrin Mueller-Johnson, Steven Mock, J. Jill Suitor, and Mark S. Lachs. 2006. “Prevention of Elder Mistreatment.” Pp. 241-254 in Handbook on Injury and Violence Prevention Interventions, edited by L. Doll et al.. Secaucus, NJ: Springer.  (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2005. "Ambivalence in Intergenerational Relations over the Life-Course." Pp. 3-28 in Intergenerational Relations Across Time and Place, edited by M. Silverstein, R. Giarrusso, and V. L. Bengtson. NY: Springer.  (Contact Jill Suitor for copy)

 

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