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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access originally published online on February 25, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2009 64B(4):489-496; doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp001
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Children in an Aging Society

Peter Uhlenberg

Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Address correspondence to Peter Uhlenberg, PhD, Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, CB 3210, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Email: peter_uhlenberg{at}unc.edu


  Abstract

Objectives: This article explores ways in which population aging in the United States between 2010 and 2030 might impact the well-being of children, with a distinction made between advantaged and disadvantaged children.

Methods: A variety of economic and demographic statistics are used to describe the changing age structure of the population and changing public spending on older people and children. Data from the 1985 General Social Survey and Wave 2 of the National Survey of Families and Households are also used to examine connections between older people and children.

Results: In recent decades, there has been a graying of the federal budget, and programs for children have received a declining proportion of domestic spending. These trends will be exaggerated between 2010 and 2030 unless structural changes occur. Grandparents may provide increasing resources for their grandchildren. Age segregation results in relatively few older people being directly involved with children not related to them by kinship.

Conclusions: The implications of population aging for children are relevant primarily for disadvantaged children. Disadvantaged children have grandparents with fewest resources and are most in need of public spending. As costs of supporting the older population increase, intentional social changes will be needed to prevent growing inequality among children.

Key Words: Age segregation • Child well-being • Grandparents • Population aging • Welfare state

Received October 29, 2008; Accepted December 22, 2008

Decision Editor: Kenneth F. Ferraro, PhD


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