Kinship Obligations in Nuclear and Extended Family Networks in Italy: A Vignette Study

Objective: This study examines kinship obligations across nuclear and extended family ties, considering variations by support type, gender, and attitudinal moderators regarding the importance attached to emotional closeness, past conflict, reciprocity, and societal judgment. Background: Existing research is predominantly concentrated on support exchanges and obligations in parent–child relationships. Therefore, it remains unknown to what extent kinship obligations extend beyond the nuclear family. Method: We present the findings from an ad-hoc online survey (N = 5601) that examines kinship obligations in Italy using a vignette-based factorial experiment, randomly assigning kin types and genders. The dependent variables measure to what extent the vignette protagonist should provide emotional, practical, care, and financial support to a relative in need. Results: Obligations to provide support to nephews/nieces, uncles/aunts, and cousins are weaker and surrounded by less consensus than those of supporting parents and children, with siblings' obligations occupying an intermediate position. Differences between extended and nuclear kin ties are larger with regard to financial support and care than to emotional and practical aids. Extended kinship obligations are more conditional on attitudes concerning societal judgment for not providing help, while those guiding parent–child ties are more dependent on the importance attached to emotional closeness and past conflict. Conclusion: We interpret these results in terms of hierarchical kin obligations that diminish with genealogical distance and are backed up by attitudes regarding emotional closeness and societal judgment.