Applying Bengtson's Model of Intergenerational Solidarity to Czech Caring Families

This paper links two research fields: elderly care in families and intergenerational solidarity. Its aim is to apply Bengtson's general theory of intergenerational solidarity to a specific sample of families currently caring for an elderly family member. Is it possible to apply Bengton's general theory to a generation of families caring for elderly parents? We compared our findings with the results of studies in the US and the Netherlands and found simillar types of families. We also developed and tested a unidimensional scale for measuring family cohesion as a specification of Bengtson's classic model. Success in comparison offers a chance for generalization of our findings also in other countries under specific circumstances.