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Abstract This work extends the recent research on contact and geographical distance between older parents and their adult children. After a review of previous studies on this topic and an overview of the geography of the family in Italy and Sweden, multivariate analysis is used to answer the research questions ‘which variables account for the levels of kin contact and spatial proximity in Italy and Sweden?’ and ‘which ones explain the differences between the two countries?’ Population ageing and socio‐demographic changes in Italy raise the question of whether the differences between the ‘Mediterranean patriarchal model’ and the ‘Northern European model’ persist, or whether there is convergence towards patterns in vanguard countries such as Sweden. Of particular interest is the role played by education because of the increasing proportions of highly educated people. Logistic regression models on SHARE data always show higher levels of intergenerational proximity and contact in Italy than in Sweden. However, most of the socio‐demographic variables have similar impacts on them in the two countries. Interaction models and Seemingly Unrelated Estimation analyses lead to the conclusion that proximity has a different role in the two societies considered, affecting the frequency of contact as well. The results suggest that the available micro‐level indicators cannot fully explain the North–South divide in family behaviours, showing that cultural patterns are rather strong. Still, this work suggests a focus more on European similarities, rather than differences, in terms of intergenerational relationships and family behaviours. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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