Towards a Typology of Intergenerational Relations by Julia Brannen (2003) focuses on these four-generation "beanpole" families and how they handle care and work.
Beanpole Families from the SAGE Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development provides a detailed overview of this shift from the traditional "pyramid" family model. 2. Film Analysis: Beanpole (2019) Beanpole image
In sociology, the refers to a family tree that has become "long and thin." Due to increased life expectancy and lower birth rates, families now often have more generations alive at once (vertical) but fewer members in each generation (horizontal), such as fewer aunts, uncles, or cousins. Towards a Typology of Intergenerational Relations by Julia