THE ROLE OF AMBIVALENCE ON WELL-BEING OF AGING PARENTS WHO HAVE A DISABLED CHILD: MULTILEVEL MEDIATION APPROACH

Abstract According to the family systems theory, strains from parenting an adult with disabilities may spillover to parents’ relationships with their other children and disrupt family dynamics and their well-being in later life. This study examined whether parental ambivalence toward their non-disabled children is greater in families of adults with disabilities [developmental disabilities (DD) or serious mental illnesses (SMI)] than families without an adult child with disabilities. The study also investigated whether ambivalence mediates the associations of having an adult child with DD or SMI on parents’ health. Data were from the 2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study in which aging parents (Mage = 71; n = 6,084) were asked about their relationship with each of their adult children. Multilevel regression models and multilevel structural equation models (MSEM) were estimated to analyze the data. Our findings showed that parents of an adult with SMI felt greater ambivalence toward their non-disabled adult children than comparison group parents of adults without disabilities, whereas no significant differences were found between parents of an adult with DD and comparison group parents. Parental ambivalence toward their non-disabled adult children played a significant indirect role in the negative association between having a child with SMI and parental physical and mental health, after adjusting for parent- and child-characteristics associated with parental health and/or ambivalence. The findings have implications for clinical practice with aging families of adults with disabilities and suggest the need for additional research to better understand intergenerational dynamics in these families.

perceive the legal system, and access resources related to their grandchild(ren)'s welfare. Due to the detrimental impact of the opioid crisis over the last decade, the number of skipped generation households is growing significantly not only in Alabama, but across the U.S.. Many GRCs lack crucial information regarding custody arrangements in a general sense or as it applies to education, healthcare, mental health, and financial aid. Critical gaps remain present in the GRC literature necessary to aid in future intervention studies and promote more effective support, resources, and policy for this population. The present study sought to examine the unique needs and experiences of GRCs, and to specifically explore legal aspects associated to their grandchild(ren)'s welfare. Using a mixed methods approach, GRCs in Tuscaloosa, Alabama completed a quiz of custodial knowledge, a survey on legal perception, and a semi-structured interview. Quantitative data revealed the most and least commonly understood aspects of custody, as well as opinions on associated legal systems related to a child's "best interest." Qualitative data analysis revealed the common themes related to custody to be unexpected assistance, ineffective assistance, leniency for parental deviance, fear of losing custody, and time and cost demands.

EFFECTS OF SOCIAL RELATIONS ON MORTALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF GRANDPARENTING
Heejung Jang, 1 and Fengyan Tang 1 , 1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Issues of health and well-being have received considerable attention as a way to help grandparent caregivers. There is growing evidence that grandparenting is beneficial for grandparent caregivers' health, yet acting as grandparent caregiver also is detrimental to health and social relations when a grandparent provides an extensive level of care to grandchildren. The extent to which grandparent caregiving benefits or harms of the health of a grandparent is still unknown; mortality specifically has not been systematically studied. Moreover, although altruistic behaviors towards others have been shown to have beneficial effects on caregivers' health in general, there is little information regarding social relations of grandparent caregivers and their impact on mortality. This study aims to investigate the roles of different aspects of social relations among community-dwelling older adults, examining whether aspects of social relations, including social networks, received functional support aid, and perceived support quality, mediate the association between grandparent caregiving and mortality. The data were drawn from the 2008 and 2014 Health and Retirement Study (N=1,196). Results of survival analyses indicate that custodial and co-parenting grandparents were significantly associated with all-cause mortality over a 6-year period; however, the associations were marginally significant after health statuses were added into the model. Specifically, family-focused network groups were significantly associated with mortality. Received functional support and perceived positive support mediated the association between custodial grandparents and mortality. This study suggests that community-based support may be beneficial to older grandparents and perceived positive relationship quality could matter for older adults' well-being.

OLDER ADULT WOMEN'S MULTIDIMENSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN SKIPPED GENERATION HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA Mojirayo Afolabi 1 , 1. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
This contribution studies the roles of grandparents in caring for grandchildren in skipped generation households, from gender perspective. Historical studies often focus on health and economic status of older adults generally, without distinguishing older adult women whose responsibilities are often undervalued. Such assessments assume that both grandparents engage in caring for grandchildren, being the joy of old age. Highlighting women's roles will ensure proper design and implementation of policies to enhance improvement in overall well-being of skipped generation households in Nigeria. The economic value of this is high. Using detailed data from three major states in Nigeria, -Imo, Lagos and Kano (representing each of the major ethnic groups) this study provides a detailed picture of the areas of women's responsibilities in skipped generation households, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative study employed structured questionnaire to collect primary data while the qualitative technique employed the use of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The older adult participants are grouped into three; less than sixty five years, between sixty five and eighty and those above eighty years of age. The study reveals that social norms and expectations impact the lives of older adults, ensuring that responsibilities sharing in skipped generation households are strongly impacted by gender roles. The paper concludes that in order to ameliorate the difficulties and challenges faced in performing these roles, governments and other organizations need to put the realities in the skipped generation households into consideration during planning processes.

THE ROLE OF AMBIVALENCE ON WELL-BEING OF AGING PARENTS WHO HAVE A DISABLED CHILD: MULTILEVEL MEDIATION APPROACH
Eun Ha Namkung 1 , 1. Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States According to the family systems theory, strains from parenting an adult with disabilities may spillover to parents' relationships with their other children and disrupt family dynamics and their well-being in later life. This study examined whether parental ambivalence toward their non-disabled children is greater in families of adults with disabilities [developmental disabilities (DD) or serious mental illnesses (SMI)] than families without an adult child with disabilities. The study also investigated whether ambivalence mediates the associations of having an adult child with DD or SMI on parents' health. Data were from the 2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study in which aging parents (Mage = 71; n = 6,084) were asked about their relationship with each of their adult children. Multilevel regression models and multilevel structural equation models (MSEM) were estimated to analyze the data. Our findings showed that parents of an adult with SMI felt greater ambivalence toward their nondisabled adult children than comparison group parents of adults without disabilities, whereas no significant differences were found between parents of an adult with DD and comparison group parents. Parental ambivalence toward their non-disabled adult children played a significant indirect role in the negative association between having a child with SMI and parental physical and mental health, after adjusting for parent-and child-characteristics associated with parental health and/or ambivalence. The findings have implications for clinical practice with aging families of adults with disabilities and suggest the need for additional research to better understand intergenerational dynamics in these families.

WHANAUNGATANGA AND FILIAL PIETY: INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGES IN CONTEMPORARY MAORI AND KOREAN CULTURES
Hong-Jae Park 1 and Jim Anglem 2 , 1. Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia, 2. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Every culture has its own tradition of intergenerational exchange based on accepted norms, while the meanings of traditional filial values have evolved over time. This paper aims to identify the various forms of filial care, support and respect for older people in Maori and Korean cultures, and reconceptualise current ways of intergenerational exchanges in both physical and virtual contexts. Data were collected through a qualitative inquiry framework consisting of 32 individual interviews and 5 ethnographic observations in New Zealand and South Korea. Thematic analysis of the data was used to identify themes and patterns from the participants' perspectives and experiences in the multilingual research context. In this cross-cultural study, for Māori participants, whanaungatanga (family relationships) was recognised as a core value that places whanau (family) at the centre of whakapapa (human and non-human relations). For Korean participants, their tradition of filial piety has continued to constitute a major component of familism mindsets and practices, while their ability to support their parents and maintain connections to their ancestors varied. Being knowledgeable about the traditional values of intergenerational solidarity helped generations feel connected and supported by each other, although both monetary and non-monetary support for one's elders has come under strain due to the impact of changes in family ties and social dynamics. Technological developments have reshaped traditional filial practices, offering new ways of intergenerational exchanges. Redefining whanaungatanga and filial piety can provide a theoretical basis for developing the concept of extended social work through avoiding excessive individualism and culture-blind approaches. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the detrimental impact of loneliness on biological, psychological, and social functioning. Loneliness has been cited to contribute to social isolation, mental health disorders, and premature death in old age. In turn, the prevention of loneliness has emerged as a priority area in geriatric and gerontology research, practice, and policy. However, determination of whether persons living 100 or more years feel lonely or socially disconnected has remained limited within centenarian research. Such research has historically fostered translation of insights and secrets for living long and aging well. Centenarians represent persons who have managed to survive, delay, or escape varying biopsychosocial losses that might otherwise deteriorate emotional health, exacerbate feelings of isolation, and limit human longevity potentials. Guided by a biopsychosocial framework, this symposium will consider biological, psychological, and social variants that contribute to risk as well as resilience in loneliness in very old age. Of particular interest is the advancement of evidence-based research exposing the interplay between loneliness and nutritional health, impact of lifelong childlessness on feelings of solitude, role of personality traits and the expression of loneliness, and the intersection between active religious engagement and loneliness. Biopsychosocial attributes that reduce the threat of social isolation and loneliness, as well as improve emotional well-being in human longevity will be further discussed. Implications relevant for geriatric counseling and wellness programming for old-old adults will be highlighted.  (RS). A series of ANCOVA analyses were then conducted controlling for education, race, self-reported health, and self-care capacity relative to the binary outcome RS. Significant differences for both the corrected model and the pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni adjustment emerged in favor (p ≤.001) of the high RS group (M HI =29.60; M LO=25.29) for life satisfaction and social provisions (M HI =82.43; M LO=76.62). However, the RS group was also significantly higher (p =.004) in reported loneliness (M HI =34.56; M LO=31.63). Implications of the findings for reducing loneliness among centenarians reporting high religious engagement are further highlighted.

THE UNIQUE CONNECTION BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND LONELINESS AMONG CENTENARIANS
Jinmyoung Cho 1 and Alex J. Bishop 2 , 1. Baylor Scott & White Health,Temple,Texas,United States,2. Oklahoma State University,Stillwater,Oklahoma,United States Evidence suggests that personality traits contribute to risk and resilience in long-term survivorship. However, research examining the link between personality and loneliness among persons living 100 and more years has remained limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the association