In modern society, the older generation is increasingly anxious about the welfare of their descendants, believing that their beloved grandchildren might face scarcity.

Intergenerational Worries: How Past Hardships and Cultural Traditions

In modern society, the older generation is increasingly anxious about the welfare of their descendants, believing that their beloved grandchildren might face scarcity. These concerns are rooted in personal experiences of hardship and deprivation and are further compounded by collective beliefs shaped by social and economic changes. Elderly individuals who have endured difficult times often transfer their emotional burdens to new generations, projecting past struggles onto the present—even when the objective reality appears prosperous.

Active participation in public life and the influence of cultural traditions further reinforce the idea that constant care for loved ones is necessary. This anxiety is often connected with established norms of behavior and mutual assistance, creating a unique emotional foundation for intergenerational relationships. Not only do personal memories play a role, but social ideals—such as the cult of youth—also shape expectations and standards, causing even the slightest instability to be perceived as a threat.

In summary, the fears and concerns of the elderly for their grandchildren’s future are not merely expressions of emotional attachment; they represent a complex blend of life experiences, cultural traditions, and reactions to modern challenges. This phenomenon serves as an important reminder that what is passed down through generations is not only genes, but also a deep-seated sense of responsibility for family well-being.

What psychological or cultural factors might contribute to the elderly's conviction that their grandchildren always experience a sense of hunger?

The psychological and cultural factors that contribute to some elderly people’s belief that their grandchildren experience hunger are multifaceted, stemming from both personal experiences and collective societal ideas.

On one hand, socio-economic changes that come with aging often evoke anxiety and fear for the future of loved ones. This state of heightened emotion can lead to caregiving that is overly vigilant. As one source notes:
"All these social and economic changes affect the psyche of elderly people, causing anxiety and fear. They search for ways to overcome these feelings through caring for their loved ones, which often manifests in the conviction that their grandchildren might be hungry." (source: link txt)

Moreover, a long life filled with accumulated experiences of deprivation—as well as personal memories of past food scarcities—can be projected onto subsequent generations. Elderly individuals, recalling their own difficult times, may unconsciously transfer these experiences to their grandchildren:
"Psychological reasons prompt elderly people to worry about their grandchildren, often based on their own past experiences of deprivation and hunger." (source: link txt)

Additionally, cultural beliefs and traditions that have been reinforced by participation in public organizations and the establishment of societal norms play a significant role. The long-held habit of caring for one’s own generation can lead to a form of nervous anxiety, where the desire to protect descendants transforms into the belief that they are in a precarious state even when everything outwardly appears fine:
"The elderly in Komsomol and other public organizations have become accustomed to the idea that they must care for their generation. This leads to a kind of nervous concern for grandchildren, often expressed in the conviction that they might be hungry." (source: link txt)

Finally, the influence of social ideals, such as the cult of youth, shapes the elderly’s expectations regarding the appearance and well-being of young generations. This can result in the transmission of anxious feelings about scarcity even to those who, by objective standards, are well-off:
"The cult of youth has created societal expectations akin to those of American, Japanese, and European tourists. Elderly people often pass on their concerns and worries about the hunger of their loved ones to their children and grandchildren." (source: link txt)

Thus, the combination of personal experiences of deprivation, collective beliefs about the necessity of constant care, socio-economic factors, and cultural traditions gives rise to an internalized belief among many elderly individuals that their grandchildren might always experience a sense of hunger.