Intergenerational and digital solidarity and psychological well‐being: During and post– <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 pandemic in Korean families

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine changes in intergenerational and digital solidarity latent classes among older parent–adult child dyads from the COVID‐19 pandemic to post‐pandemic and how transition patterns of solidarity latent classes are associated with their psychological well‐being—life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and self‐esteem—in post‐pandemic South Korea. Background Although intergenerational solidarity and psychological well‐being have been mainly investigated in cross‐sectional studies, the longitudinal relationship between the two variables in the pandemic period is unclear. Method Using 326 older parent–adult child dyads from 2022 (during the pandemic) and 2023 (post‐pandemic) surveys, latent class analysis and latent transition analysis with a three‐step approach were conducted. Results Results showed that three solidarity latent classes (tight‐knit traditional, distant‐but‐digitally connected, and conflictual) were uncovered among older parent–adult child dyads in both 2022 and 2023 surveys. In addition, parent–child dyads with tight‐knit traditional relationships during and post‐pandemic reported better psychological well‐being post‐pandemic than those with conflictual relationships. Notably, the above results were more evident in adult children's psychological well‐being than in older parents. Conclusion These findings suggest that strong solidarity during and after the pandemic is more beneficial for adult children's psychological well‐being than for older parents in the post‐pandemic period. Additionally, the findings indicate that digital communication may not replace in‐person contact after the pandemic.