Tables

Cultural Diversity and Family Exchanges

Trevor Batrouney and Wendy Stone

TABLES

Table 1. Proportion of respondents in each comparison group.

Comparison Groups	Number of cases	Per cent of cases
Born overseas, in a non-English speaking country	382	13.9
Born overseas, in an English speaking country	295	10.8
Born in Australia, at least one parent born overseas	437	15.9
Born in Australia, both parents born in Australia	1626	59.3
Total	2740	100.0

Table 2. Multiple response items showing proportion of respondents who would turn to family members, by type of support

Who do you turn to?.....	Born overseas, NES country	Born overseas, ES country	Born Australia, parent(s) overseas	Born Australia, parents born Australia	Total %
Who do you confide in?
No-one	7.9	7.1	9.4	6.5	7.2
Partner	52.5	61.0	50.3	58.2	56.5
Mother/step-mother	12.6	15.3	16.5	13.2	13.9
Father/step-father	4.7	5.4	3.9	4.8	4.7
Mother-in-law	1.6	2.0	2.3	2.2	2.1
Father-in-law	0.9	0.7	0.2	0.4	0.4
Brother/Brother-in-law	8.8	3.7	5.3	4.7	5.2
Sister/Sister-in-law	17.6	8.8	17.4	13.6	14.2
Son	6.6	6.1	3.7	5.2	5.2
Daughter	12.9	10.5	7.1	10.2	10.0
Female friend	16.4	25.1	24.5	25.5	24.2
Male friend	11.0	10.5	13.5	10.5	11.0
Who would you turn to if you became ill?
No-one	4.1	3.4	2.3	1.9	2.4
Partner	55.2	62.5	56.8	59.7	59.0
Mother/step-mother	26.0	22.2	37.5	30.1	30.0
Father/step-father	13.2	10.9	16.6	13.7	13.8
Mother-in-law	6.0	4.8	5.3	5.1	5.2
Father-in-law	4.1	2.7	2.5	2.1	2.5
Brother/Brother-in-law	12.2	7.8	10.6	8.3	9.1
Sister/Sister-in-law	21.6	16.0	19.3	21.3	20.5
Son	12.9	12.6	9.2	12.1	11.8
Daughter	17.6	16.4	13.8	16.9	16.4
Female friend	8.5	11.6	10.1	12.6	11.6
Male friend	5.3	5.5	5.5	4.9	5.1
Who would you turn to in an emergency?
No-one	3.1	1.7	2.7	1.8	2.1
Partner	55.3	62.9	53.1	59.0	58.0
Mother/step-mother	14.1	13.9	24.7	21.8	20.5
Father/step-father	10.0	8.5	16.2	13.5	13.0
Mother-in-law	3.4	4.4	3.9	4.1	4.0
Father-in-law	3.1	3.1	2.3	3.0	2.9
Brother/Brother-in-law	15.9	6.1	8.9	8.7	9.3
Sister/Sister-in-law	14.1	7.8	16.0	12.8	12.9
Son	14.4	12.2	7.6	9.1	9.8
Daughter	12.8	12.6	8.0	10.9	10.8
Female friend	11.9	16.3	16.2	14.4	14.6
Male friend	12.8	9.9	10.8	8.0	9.2

Note: Statement was only asked in the main Life Course questionnaire, thus 63 non-English speaking respondents are missing from the 'Born overseas, NES country' group in this table.
Items are multiple response, percentages refer to percentage of respondents; not all items are presented.

Table 3. Proportion of each group who Strongly Agree or Agree with statements of family responsibility

Statements of family responsibility Born overseas,
NES country Born overseas,
ES country Born Australia, parent(s) overseas Born Australia, parents born Australia Total %

Parents should help adult children financially if they need it 79.1 76.6 74.4 71.5 73.4

Parents should let their adult children live with them if they need to 83.8 76.2 79.2 77.6 78.4

Parents and adult children should stay in touch on a regular basis 97.8 98.3 98.2 98.3 98.2

Adult children should help their parents financially if they need it 86.6 84.1 86.0 80.1 82.3 *

Children should let ageing parents live with them if they need to 77.8 60.9 68.1 63.2 65.5 *

It is not the responsibility of adult children to take care of their elderly parents 21.9 29.9 20.7 25.3 24.7

I would rather use outside services than have help from family and friends 34.9 24.6 24.7 32.8 30.8 *

Note: Attitudes toward family responsibility statements were only asked in the main Life Course questionnaire, thus 63 non-English speaking respondents are missing from the 'Born overseas, NES country' group in this table.
Attitudes across groups were mostly not statistically significant at P < 0.05 level. An asterisk (*) is used to denote those items for which statistically significant differences in attitudes were found.

Table 4. Proximity and frequency of contact respondents have with their adult child(ren) living independently.

Proximity and contact with adult child(ren)	Born overseas, NES country	Born overseas, ES country	Born Australia, parent(s) overseas	Born Australia, parents born Australia	Total %
Geographic proximity to respondent of adult child(ren) *
Any within 30 minutes	69.2	60.5	60.9	61.3	62.3
Elsewhere in Australia	24.8	33.3	39.1	37.7	35.6
Overseas	6.0	6.1	-	1.0	2.1
How often respondent speaks with adult child(ren) *
Every day	34.6	20.4	20.0	29.8	28.3
Few times per week	33.8	40.7	43.6	39.1	39.1
Once per week	19.5	17.7	24.5	21.5	21.1
Less often	12.0	21.2	11.8	9.6	11.5

* All items show statistically significant differences at the P < 0.05 level.

Table 5. Exchanges of support respondents have with their adult child(ren) aged 18 and over living independently, showing gender of respondent.

Type and direction of exchange Born overseas,
NES country Born overseas,
ES country Born Australia, parent(s) overseas Born Australia, parents born Australia Total %

% provide financial support to adult children

Men 70.1 64.9 75.0 76.3 73.5

Women 57.6 70.6 77.3 75.7 72.8*

Total 62.7 68.0 76.4 75.9 73.1*

% receive financial support from adult children

Men 22.4 8.8 15.7 12.7 14.1

Women 36.4 26.5 34.7 24.6 27.5*

Total 30.7 18.4 27.0 20.5 22.6*

% provide emotional support and advice to adult children

Men 87.7 79.3 86.5 88.6 86.8

Women 93.5 94.1 97.3 95.7 95.4

Total 91.0 87.3 92.9 93.2 92.2

% receive emotional support and advice from adult children

Men 71.9 59.6 52.9 65.3 63.8

Women 85.7 80.9 85.3 83.5 83.7

Total 79.9 71.2 72.2 77.3 76.3

% provide practical support to adult children

Men 73.7 71.9 88.5 81.8 80.1

Women 81.8 76.5 85.3 88.9 86.5*

Total 78.4 74.4 86.6 86.5 84.1*

% receive practical support from adult children

Men 75.4 57.9 54.9 72.5 68.6*

Women 80.5 75.0 78.7 81.7 80.6

Total 78.4 67.2 69.0 78.6 76.1

Note: Results showing the provision and receipt of 'emotional support and advice' and 'practical support' include responses to the main Life Course questionnaire only, thus 63 non-English speaking respondents are missing from these results in this table. Results showing flows of 'financial support' include all responses.
An asterisk (*) denotes items for which statistically significant differences at the P < 0.05 level were found.

Table 6. Proximity and frequency of contact respondents have with their parents.

Proximity and contact with parents Born overseas,
NES country Born overseas,
ES country Born Australia, parent(s) overseas Born Australia, parents born Australia Total %

Geographic proximity to respondent of father *

Live with me 3.1 3.8 1.8 2.2 2.4

Any within 30 minutes 15.6 17.9 32.7 36.9 32.0

30 minutes to 2 hours 17.2 16.7 20.9 20.4 19.7

Elsewhere in Australia 20.3 12.8 34.5 37.2 32.3

Overseas 43.8 48.7 10.0 3.4 13.6

Geographic proximity to respondent of mother *

Live with me 6.6 2.0 4.5 2.8 3.4

Any within 30 minutes 23.5 28.4 42.5 47.2 41.5

30 minutes to 2 hours 9.6 9.5 19.0 17.4 15.8

Elsewhere in Australia 12.0 20.3 30.5 30.5 27.1

Overseas 48.2 39.9 3.5 2.1 12.2

How often respondent speaks with father

Every day 8.7 5.9 6.3 13.2 10.9

Few times per week 4.3 11.8 25.0 12.1 12.2

Once per week 13.0 23.5 6.3 24.2 20.4

Fortnightly 13.0 5.9 18.8 16.5 15.0

Less often 60.9 52.9 43.8 34.1 41.5

How often respondent speaks with mother *

Every day 14.7 5.9 7.5 13.7 12.3

Few times per week 7.4 14.7 20.0 19.5 16.6

Once per week 13.2 20.6 35.0 27.4 24.7

Fortnightly 8.8 11.8 15.0 9.5 10.2

Less often 55.9 47.1 22.5 30.0 36.1

Note: 'Mother' and 'Father' include parents-in-law.
An asterisk (*) denotes items for which statistically significant differences at the P < 0.05 level were found.

Table 7. Exchanges of support respondents have with their parents, showing gender of respondent.

Type and direction of exchange Born overseas,
NES country Born overseas,
ES country Born Australia, parent(s) overseas Born Australia, parents born Australia Total %

% provide financial support to parents

Men 53.5 48.1 47.8 41.1 44.8*

Women 44.6 33.6 51.4 40.3 42.0*

Total 48.7 40.1 49.9 40.7 43.2*

% receive financial support from parents

Men 34.8 34.0 43.3 34.7 36.0

Women 32.5 42.7 50.5 45.4 44.4*

Total 33.6 38.8 47.5 40.9 40.8*

% provide emotional support and advice to parents

Men 72.9 70.8 76.4 74.0 73.9

Women 86.5 75.6 86.7 87.3 85.9*

Total 79.8 73.4 82.4 81.7 80.7*

% receive emotional support and advice from parents

Men 60.2 50.0 66.2 59.0 59.4

Women 66.2 64.9 72.0 74.6 72.3*

Total 63.2 58.2 69.6 68.1 66.7*

% provide practical support to parents

Men 60.5 58.5 84.7 76.0 73.5*

Women 70.7 60.3 83.5 82.9 79.4*

Total 65.6 59.5 84.0 80.0 76.8*

% receive practical support from parents

Men 49.6 32.1 61.1 56.6 53.7*

Women 56.4 47.3 72.9 63.8 62.9*

Total 53.1 40.5 68.0 60.8 58.9*

Note: Results showing the provision and receipt of 'emotional support and advice' and 'practical support' include responses to the main Life Course questionnaire only, thus 63 non-English speaking respondents are missing from these results in this table. Results showing flows of 'financial support' include all responses.
'Parents' includes parents-in-law.
An asterisk (*) denotes items for which statistically significant differences at the P < 0.05 level were found.

Australian Institute of Family Studies, Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000, Australia. Telephone: (03) 9214 7888; International: 61 3 9214 7888. Facsimile: (03) 9214 7839; International: 61 3 9214 7839. URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/

Statements of family responsibility	Born overseas, NES country	Born overseas, ES country	Born Australia, parent(s) overseas	Born Australia, parents born Australia	Total %
Parents should help adult children financially if they need it	79.1	76.6	74.4	71.5	73.4
Parents should let their adult children live with them if they need to	83.8	76.2	79.2	77.6	78.4
Parents and adult children should stay in touch on a regular basis	97.8	98.3	98.2	98.3	98.2
Adult children should help their parents financially if they need it	86.6	84.1	86.0	80.1	82.3 *
Children should let ageing parents live with them if they need to	77.8	60.9	68.1	63.2	65.5 *
It is not the responsibility of adult children to take care of their elderly parents	21.9	29.9	20.7	25.3	24.7
I would rather use outside services than have help from family and friends	34.9	24.6	24.7	32.8	30.8 *

Type and direction of exchange	Born overseas, NES country	Born overseas, ES country	Born Australia, parent(s) overseas	Born Australia, parents born Australia	Total %
% provide financial support to adult children
Men	70.1	64.9	75.0	76.3	73.5
Women	57.6	70.6	77.3	75.7	72.8*
Total	62.7	68.0	76.4	75.9	73.1*
% receive financial support from adult children
Men	22.4	8.8	15.7	12.7	14.1
Women	36.4	26.5	34.7	24.6	27.5*
Total	30.7	18.4	27.0	20.5	22.6*
% provide emotional support and advice to adult children
Men	87.7	79.3	86.5	88.6	86.8
Women	93.5	94.1	97.3	95.7	95.4
Total	91.0	87.3	92.9	93.2	92.2
% receive emotional support and advice from adult children
Men	71.9	59.6	52.9	65.3	63.8
Women	85.7	80.9	85.3	83.5	83.7
Total	79.9	71.2	72.2	77.3	76.3
% provide practical support to adult children
Men	73.7	71.9	88.5	81.8	80.1
Women	81.8	76.5	85.3	88.9	86.5*
Total	78.4	74.4	86.6	86.5	84.1*
% receive practical support from adult children
Men	75.4	57.9	54.9	72.5	68.6*
Women	80.5	75.0	78.7	81.7	80.6
Total	78.4	67.2	69.0	78.6	76.1

Proximity and contact with parents	Born overseas, NES country	Born overseas, ES country	Born Australia, parent(s) overseas	Born Australia, parents born Australia	Total %
Geographic proximity to respondent of father *
Live with me	3.1	3.8	1.8	2.2	2.4
Any within 30 minutes	15.6	17.9	32.7	36.9	32.0
30 minutes to 2 hours	17.2	16.7	20.9	20.4	19.7
Elsewhere in Australia	20.3	12.8	34.5	37.2	32.3
Overseas	43.8	48.7	10.0	3.4	13.6
Geographic proximity to respondent of mother *
Live with me	6.6	2.0	4.5	2.8	3.4
Any within 30 minutes	23.5	28.4	42.5	47.2	41.5
30 minutes to 2 hours	9.6	9.5	19.0	17.4	15.8
Elsewhere in Australia	12.0	20.3	30.5	30.5	27.1
Overseas	48.2	39.9	3.5	2.1	12.2
How often respondent speaks with father
Every day	8.7	5.9	6.3	13.2	10.9
Few times per week	4.3	11.8	25.0	12.1	12.2
Once per week	13.0	23.5	6.3	24.2	20.4
Fortnightly	13.0	5.9	18.8	16.5	15.0
Less often	60.9	52.9	43.8	34.1	41.5
How often respondent speaks with mother *
Every day	14.7	5.9	7.5	13.7	12.3
Few times per week	7.4	14.7	20.0	19.5	16.6
Once per week	13.2	20.6	35.0	27.4	24.7
Fortnightly	8.8	11.8	15.0	9.5	10.2
Less often	55.9	47.1	22.5	30.0	36.1