A Tracking Study of Intergenerational Conflict in Chinese Rural Elderly Families

Based on the longitudinal survey data from the "Living Welfare Status of Rural Elderly in Anhui Province" conducted in three phases between 2009 and 2015, this study systematically examines the dynamic impact of changes in rural family structures on intergenerational conflict. The findings are as follows:Differentiated Effects of Family Structure Transitions: Transitions to single-person households, couple-only nuclear households, two-generation stem households, or persistently couple-only nuclear households significantly reduce the probability of intergenerational conflict compared to other types. Conversely, transitioning to a three-generation stem household notably increases the risk of such conflicts. Nonlinear Temporal Dynamics: Transitions to couple-only nuclear and two-generation stem households exhibit an inverted U-shaped trajectory in intergenerational conflict propensity, indicating age-stratified impacts mediated by power renegotiations and cultural role adaptation. Tripartite Conflict Formation Mechanism: Intergenerational conflicts primarily arise from: Axiological dissonance rooted in generational differences in socialization contexts and cultural capital accumulation; Structural ruptures due to resource allocation asymmetries within families; Relational simplification through nuclearization, which reduces resource competition and coercive interdependencies. This study provides theoretical insights into optimizing intergenerational relationships in rural families and enhancing the quality of elderly care by elucidating the relationship between family structure transformation and intergenerational conflict.