Intergenerational digital relationships in later life
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
This chapter reviews how older adults use information and communication technologies to sustain relationships with adult children and grandchildren, and the implications for relationship quality and psychological well-being, with emphasis on European contexts. This chapter situates intergenerational ties within solidarity, ambivalence and life-course perspectives; discusses digital divides and families’ role as ‘warm experts’; synthesises evidence on whether digital contact complements or displaces in-person meetings; and assesses effects on well-being, including during COVID-19. Across studies, digital modes typically supplement visits and calls, yielding ‘distant-but-digitally connected’ configurations that buffer distance and disruption without substituting face-to-face exchanges. Cross-national variation reflects infrastructure, welfare regimes, normative climates and skill distributions. Methodologically, the chapter highlights the need for mode-specific measures, longitudinal and dyadic designs, and attention to the quality—not only frequency—of interactions. Future work should trace hybrid repertoires over time, specify grandparenting pathways, and address inequalities in access and skills. The chapter concludes that digital media extend intergenerational solidarity when embedded in cohesive relationships and supportive policy environments, though benefits remain uneven and contingent.
Keywords
intergenerational relationships, older adults, digital communication, family connectedness, psychological wellbeing, digital divide
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Family Relationships in the Digital Era: How Information and Communication Technology Connects and Disconnects Us
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Arts and Humanities
ISBN
[9781040567876]
Copyright
subscription content
First Page
129
Last Page
145
Recommended Citation
Arpino, B., & Baldassar, L. (2026). Intergenerational digital relationships in later life. In K. Tammisalo, M. Danielsbacka, & A. O. Tanskanen (Eds.), Family relationships in the digital era: How information and communication technology connects and disconnects us (pp. 129-145). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003653394-9