Proximity as a mediating influence on the perceived aging parent-adult child relationship.

This research examines whether proximity has a mediating influence on the quality of the relationship between aging parents and adult children. Results of LOGIST regressions indicate no difference in quality of relationships between groups of parents whose children live near them and whose children live more than 60 miles away. Significant predictors of the relationships for the proximate group were personal sense of control and education, and for the distant group, sex of the child, and number of living children. Our findings support the contention that the modified extended family can maintain psychological closeness regardless of physical distance.