The Ripple Effect of Separation: How Parental and Adult Child Relationships Influence Relationship Stability

We examine the ripple effect of separation between parents and adult children, exploring how these familial transitions influence relationship stability. Using HRS data from 1998 to 2020, we investigate: (i) whether parental separation in adulthood increases an individual's risk of separation and (ii) whether an adult child’s separation heightens the risk for parents. Our findings show that both parental and adult child separations significantly increase relational instability, with a stronger effect on adult children. Additionally, we assess gene-environment interactions by incorporating polygenic indices (PGI) for depressive symptoms, categorized into three groups. Individuals with higher PGI exhibit a greater likelihood of separation following familial separations, underscoring the role of shared genetic factors in relational dynamics. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the interconnections within family systems and the continued influence of parental relationships into adulthood, as well as the moderating effects of genetic predispositions on these dynamics.