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The article focuses on family support networks with regard to media-related learning processes of older adults. The article examines the conditions under which media-related support for older people took place within the family before the pandemic. For this purpose, a multi-perspective study on intergenerational media-related learning of older adults in families is presented. Based on multi-perspective analyses of 10 qualitative interviews with family support dyads (five younger supportive family members and five older adults each), it is shown that intergenerational media-related support in the family guides action in three different dimensions: direct and general reciprocity, creation and/or maintenance of options for action and emotional recognition. The results provide evidence for assessing the conditions for media-related support processes during the COVID-19 pandemic and point to implications for COVID-19 research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Great Famine in China from 1959 to 1961 is recognized as one of the most severe social and public health disasters of the 20th century, with profound long-term impacts on the health of survivors, particularly on their mental health. Early-life malnutrition and psychological trauma are considered to contribute to a range of health issues in adulthood, including depression. Objective: This study aims to explore how the experience of the Chinese Great Famine from 1959 to 1961 affects the risk of depressive symptoms among the elderly. Using a mechanism analysis, the study investigates the roles of social support, socioeconomic status, and intergenerational support in this process. Methods: Using micro-level individual data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), combined with province-level excess mortality data, this study employs a cohort-based difference-in-differences model to identify the causal effects of the famine experience on depression levels among the elderly. Results: The study reveals that experiencing the Great Famine significantly increases the risk of depression among the elderly. This effect is more pronounced among rural residents, those who experienced the famine during adolescence, and in regions less influenced by Confucian culture. The mechanism analysis indicates that diminished social support, lower socioeconomic status, and insufficient intergenerational support are the primary pathways through which the famine experience influences depression levels in the elderly. Conclusions: The experience of the Great Famine has exerted a long-term and profound impact on the mental health of the elderly in China, particularly in terms of depression. The findings provide new perspectives on understanding the long-term effects of major historical events on health and offer important empirical evidence for the development of mental health intervention policies for the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Great Famine in China from 1959 to 1961 is recognized as one of the most severe social and public health disasters of the 20th century, with profound long-term impacts on the health of survivors, particularly on their mental health. Early-life malnutrition and psychological trauma are considered to contribute to a range of health issues in adulthood, including depression. Objective This study aims to explore how the experience of the Chinese Great Famine from 1959 to 1961 affects the risk of depressive symptoms among the elderly. Using a mechanism analysis, the study investigates the roles of social support, socioeconomic status, and intergenerational support in this process. Methods Using micro-level individual data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), combined with province-level excess mortality data, this study employs a cohort-based difference-in-differences model to identify the causal effects of the famine experience on depression levels among the elderly. Results The study reveals that experiencing the Great Famine significantly increases the risk of depression among the elderly. This effect is more pronounced among rural residents, those who experienced the famine during adolescence, and in regions less influenced by Confucian culture. The mechanism analysis indicates that diminished social support, lower socioeconomic status, and insufficient intergenerational support are the primary pathways through which the famine experience influences depression levels in the elderly. Conclusions The experience of the Great Famine has exerted a long-term and profound impact on the mental health of the elderly in China, particularly in terms of depression. The findings provide new perspectives on understanding the long-term effects of major historical events on health and offer important empirical evidence for the development of mental health intervention policies for the elderly.

Abstract Background China’s transition into an aging society is accelerated by the simultaneous decline in fertility rates and the prolonged life expectancy of older adults. The impact of widowhood, a significant stressor in old age, has emerged as a crucial factor affecting the quality of life among the elderly. Methods This study is based on data from the 2018 China Health and Aging Tracking Survey. Multiple linear regression models were employed to investigate the influence of widowhood on the quality of life of older adults in China. Additionally, Bootstrap mediation effects were utilized to assess the mediating role of intergenerational support, considering both financial and emotional support from children. Results The findings indicate a substantial reduction in the quality of life index among older adults following widowhood. Moreover, the impact is more pronounced among older men compared to older women. Rural older adults experience a significant decline in quality of life post-widowhood, while the effect on urban counterparts is not statistically significant. Conclusions Intergenerational financial support was identified as a partial mediator between widowhood and the quality of life among older adults. This underscores the importance of familial financial assistance in mitigating the adverse effects of widowhood on the well-being of the elderly. These results offer valuable insights into the nuanced impact of widowhood on the quality of life among older adults in China, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, especially in rural areas. Clinical trial Not applicable.

The present study focuses on the role of family support to young adult children during COVID‐19 in ameliorating the negative financial impact of the pandemic. Guided by the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory of stress and coping, we conceptualize the negative financial impact due to COVID‐19 as a source of financial stress that would be associated with lower levels of both financial wellbeing and positive outlook of young adults. We rely on data collected from a multinational sample of young adults (ages 18–30) from six countries (China, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, US; N = 2102) over a 3‐month period (July 2020–September 2020). We tested the potential effects of two types of support (i.e., parental financial support and family emotional support) using path analysis. While we find a consistent positive association between family emotional support and both financial wellbeing and positive outlook, we also find a consistent negative association between parental financial support and financial wellbeing, and a nonsignificant or negative association (Lithuania only) with a positive outlook. The significant interaction between COVID‐19 financial impact and family emotional support on young adults' positive outlook reveals that the benefit of family emotional support is more evident when the negative financial impact is low or moderate. We discuss the implications of these findings in assisting young adults to cope with financial disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of children's caregiving has received substantial attention in studies on care in old age. Previous research shows that children's care provision is strongly intertwined with both their individual and siblings' situation regarding employment and geographic parent-child distance. This study uses data from six waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), taking a within-family approach, to examine how caregiving is (re-)distributed between siblings over time. The provision of continuous parent care is observed more frequent and volatile in European countries with a family-based care system. The results from family fixed-effects regression models demonstrate that children working less than siblings persist in caregiving more. Living closest to parents facilitates children to keep up care efforts, while changing to living closest enhances the start of parent care. This study suggests that geographic distance is vital in the long-term organization of parent care between siblings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China's transition into an aging society is accelerated by the simultaneous decline in fertility rates and the prolonged life expectancy of older adults. The impact of widowhood, a significant stressor in old age, has emerged as a crucial factor affecting the quality of life among the elderly. Methods: This study is based on data from the 2018 China Health and Aging Tracking Survey. Multiple linear regression models were employed to investigate the influence of widowhood on the quality of life of older adults in China. Additionally, Bootstrap mediation effects were utilized to assess the mediating role of intergenerational support, considering both financial and emotional support from children. Results: The findings indicate a substantial reduction in the quality of life index among older adults following widowhood. Moreover, the impact is more pronounced among older men compared to older women. Rural older adults experience a significant decline in quality of life post-widowhood, while the effect on urban counterparts is not statistically significant. Conclusions: Intergenerational financial support was identified as a partial mediator between widowhood and the quality of life among older adults. This underscores the importance of familial financial assistance in mitigating the adverse effects of widowhood on the well-being of the elderly. These results offer valuable insights into the nuanced impact of widowhood on the quality of life among older adults in China, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, especially in rural areas. Clinical trial: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While homebuying has become central to the economic security and life-course transitions of younger Chinese adult cohorts, affordability has become an increasing obstacle. With individual savings and housing loans fading as means of achieving homeownership, intergenerational transfers have acquired renewed status. This paper addresses the agency of young people and their families in negotiating adverse housing market conditions. It draws on qualitative interviews with young-adults in Shanghai that explore intergenerational transfers and the strategies deployed to finance homebuying and in developing long-term financial arrangements. Our research stresses intergenerational collaboration in how young people navigate owner-occupation as well as how features of families and housing financialization combine to shape the behaviour of young people in the housing market. Shanghai represents a challenging market for young homebuyers, but provides insights on how family-support can shape housing systems and pathways in various housing contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To move beyond the focus on individual types of support, we examined the overall reciprocity of support between older adults and their adult children. Drawing on the theory of esteem enhancement, we hypothesized that the under benefited older adults, defined as older adults whose support provided is larger than support received in intergenerational relationships, may have better health conditions than those with a more or less balanced exchange of support. To test the hypothesis, we examined the relationship between the reciprocity of intergenerational support and self-rated health (SRH) among older adults in China. We also investigated the moderating role of gender in this relationship. Using data collected from 832 older adults in Wuhan, China, we found that compared to those with a balanced level of reciprocal support in the intergenerational relationship, older adults who were under benefited from the intergenerational support had better SRH. This finding is in line with the esteem enhancement theory. We also found that gender moderated the association between the reciprocity of intergenerational support and SRH. Specifically, older women who under benefit from the support had better SRH than older women with a balanced level of reciprocal support. In contrast, older men who under benefit from the support had worse SRH than older men with a balanced level of reciprocal support. This finding highlights the necessity of constructing social psychological frameworks that are attuned to gender variations for a more comprehensive comprehension of health and health-related behaviors among older adults in China. Plain language summary: We looked at how older adults and their adult children give and receive support from each other, instead of just focusing on one type of support. We thought that older adults who give more support than they receive might have better health. To test this, we asked 832 older adults in China about the support they gave and received, and how they rated their health. We found that older adults who gave more support than they received had better health than those with an equal exchange of support. Women who gave more support than they received also had better health, but men who gave more support than they received had worse health. This shows that we need to pay attention to differences between men and women when thinking about older adults' health. We should also consider how older adults and their grown children support each other when we plan programs to promote health in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of intergenerational support and activities of daily living (ADL) on psychological distress in older adults, and to analyse the effects of the interaction between ADL and intergenerational support on psychological distress in older adults.MethodsA probability sample of 1,065 older adults aged 60 and above was conducted in Xuzhou, China, from 18 June to 26 August 2023. ADL was assessed using the ADL scale combined with the Barthel Index; Intergenerational support was measured using the Intergenerational Support Scale; and psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 10 scale. An ordered multichotomous logistic regression model was constructed to analyse the factors influencing psychological distress in the elderly. The interaction model was constructed by one-way analysis of variance to further analyse the effect of the interaction between financial support, instrumental support and emotional support and ADL on psychological distress in the elderly.ResultsElderly living in rural areas, with an annual household income of less than 30,000 yuan, who engaged in manual labor before retirement, who did not receive financial support and who received instrumental support were more likely to experience psychological distress, and the higher the degree of restriction in ADL, the higher the risk of psychological distress. A significant interaction was observed between ADL and financial support (F = 221.570, p

IntroductionAs rural-to-urban migration accelerates, rural areas are experiencing a significant increase in empty-nesters among the older adults. Influenced by traditional concepts of filial piety, older adults in rural areas heavily rely on the family-based old care model, creating a complex interplay between supply and demand for older adults’ care. This study investigates the relationship between intergenerational support and older adults’ care expectations in rural areas. We construct measures of financial and care expectations of older adults’ care to reflect older adults’ intentions and choices.MethodsThis study uses data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and rural case studies to employ a binomial logit regression model, moderation effect analysis, and in-depth interviews.ResultsOur research reveals that the level of financial expectations for older adults’ care is inversely related to the extent of financial support from the parental generation but positively related to the level of financial support from the offspring. However, the older adults’ care expectations do not appear to be influenced by intergenerational support. Furthermore, population characteristics of the parental generation, such as educational attainment, age, and marital status, moderate the relationship between intergenerational support and older adults’ care expectations. Educational attainment negatively moderates the impact of parental financial support on financial expectations, age positively moderates offspring’s financial support on financial expectations. However, age negatively moderates offspring’s financial support on care expectations, while marital status positively moderates offspring’s financial support on care expectations.DiscussionThese findings help to elucidate the older adults’ care expectations of rural residents during the process of urbanization and social transformation, offering family-centered solutions such as ‘promoting cohabitation or proximity of children to their parents, developing diverse older adults’ care models based on different family situations, and ensuring the provision of basic older adults’ care services’ to address the current challenges of rural older adults’ care in China.

Background: Currently, the relationship of intergenerational support on health is mainly focused on physical health and mental health, and there are fewer studies on the relationship of intergenerational support on self-assessed health. Therefore, this paper discusses and analyzes the possible relationship of intergenerational support on the self-assessed health of older adults in terms of the bidirectional support of various forms of support between older parents and their adult children in terms of financial, living, and emotional support(CHARLS). Methods: This study was conducted on participants aged 65 and over, using the CHARLS 2020 survey, involving 6359 (3069 men and 3290 women) elderly people.Health was measured in three dimensions: physical, psychological, and self-assessment; intergenerational support was measured in three dimensions: financial, life care, and spiritual comfort; and regression models analysed the relationship between intergenerational support and the health of the elderly population. Results: Children's life care support (p

IntroductionIntergenerational support is an important determinant of mental health. Due to limited access to formal care, the role of the family as provider of support became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, it remains unclear how intergenerational support from adult children to older parents was affected during the pandemic and whether this had consequences for the mental health of the parent generation.MethodsUsing data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Corona Surveys, we explore whether changes in support going from non-coresident adult children to their parents are associated with parents’ increase in depressive feelings. Additionally, we test whether the pandemic context and public health measures affected this relationship.ResultsDuring the pandemic, families are found to provide more support. These changes in intergenerational support, however, were related to increased depressive feelings for the older parents. Furthermore, both the strictness of public health measures and the concurrent epidemiological situation affected this relationship.ConclusionWe conclude that the family is an essential source of late-life well-being, but stressful life events, such as public health crises, put pressure on these intergenerational relations with potential adverse mental health outcomes. Future policies should take into account the ambivalent nature of intergenerational relationships.

Abstract Background This study aimed investigate the impact of intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults in urban China. It also sought to evaluate the chain mediation effect of attitudes toward younger people and willingness to interact with younger people within a non-familial context between intergenerational support and mental health. Methods Data were derived from a community survey that adopted quota sampling in mainland China in 2022 (N = 780). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and the bootstrap technique was used to test the mediation effect. Results A significant positive association was found between intergenerational support and the mental health of older adults in urban China (B = 0.852, 95% confidence interval CI [0.157,1.617]). Intergenerational support had a specific indirect effect on mental health through older adults’ attitudes toward younger people within a non-familial context (B = 0.665, 95% CI [0.443,1.046]). There was a chain mediation effect (B = 0.126, 95% CI [0.069,0.224]) in relation to attitudes toward younger people and the willingness to interact with younger people between intergenerational support and mental health. Mediation accounted for 44.44% of the total effects in the model. Conclusion These findings help identify modifiable factors that can improve the mental health of older adults. In line with the proposed serial multiple mediation model, this study provides theoretical and practical insights concerning the synergistic effect of intergenerational support at the family level and intergenerational interaction at the community level. Policy and social service implications are also discussed.

Parents are increasingly providing financial support to their adult children. At the same time, it is often taking young people into their 30s to convert educational credentials into career outcomes, establish independent households, and marry or form partnerships. While the role of the so-called 'bank of mum and dad' in assisting with entry into home ownership is well established, its effects are potentially far wider, for example affecting young adults' employment pathways. This article contributes to emerging research on extended intergenerational support using longitudinal data from Australia to explore which young people are receiving this support during their 20s and into their early 30s. Drawing on our findings, we contend that financial transfers as people enter their mid-20s and beyond appear to be used both to manage hardship and precarity, and to enable speculation on positive employment futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed investigate the impact of intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults in urban China. It also sought to evaluate the chain mediation effect of attitudes toward younger people and willingness to interact with younger people within a non-familial context between intergenerational support and mental health. Methods: Data were derived from a community survey that adopted quota sampling in mainland China in 2022 (N = 780). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and the bootstrap technique was used to test the mediation effect. Results: A significant positive association was found between intergenerational support and the mental health of older adults in urban China (B = 0.852, 95% confidence interval CI [0.157,1.617]). Intergenerational support had a specific indirect effect on mental health through older adults' attitudes toward younger people within a non-familial context (B = 0.665, 95% CI [0.443,1.046]). There was a chain mediation effect (B = 0.126, 95% CI [0.069,0.224]) in relation to attitudes toward younger people and the willingness to interact with younger people between intergenerational support and mental health. Mediation accounted for 44.44% of the total effects in the model. Conclusion: These findings help identify modifiable factors that can improve the mental health of older adults. In line with the proposed serial multiple mediation model, this study provides theoretical and practical insights concerning the synergistic effect of intergenerational support at the family level and intergenerational interaction at the community level. Policy and social service implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates inter-generational connections between adult children and elderly parents in China during a period of profound socioeconomic transformations and examine their impact on subjective wellbeing. Using data from the China Household Finance Survey, we examine whether adult children experience greater happiness when they maintain close connections with their aging parents. In addition to considering the well-established factors of age, health, homeownership, and financial resources, we specifically focus on living arrangements between adult children and aging parents and find living apart but in proximity has replaced co-residence as the dominant living arrangement in China and has a significant positive effect on wellbeing. Furthermore, we observe that strong intergenerational connections, encompassing emotional and material support, also significantly enhance wellbeing. This suggests that despite ongoing modernization and market transition in China, the enduring influence of Confucian values on family bonds persists, albeit with some contemporary adaptations, thereby promoting wellbeing. By examining inter-generational connections within extended families and their intersectionality with SWB, this study contributes to the literature on wellbeing by providing a familial perspective and studying a unique meso-level local contexts defined by family relations rather than spatial or administrative boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparenting is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, especially in Chinese society. However, the impact of grandparenting on older adults' health remains unclear. This study examined whether and how grandparenting is associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults and the role of intergenerational support (i.e., financial, emotional, and instrumental support) in this relationship. Using data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 wave, the researchers employed multivariate linear regression models to investigate variations in depressive symptoms and their associations with grandparenting; the role of intergenerational support was also explored. The results indicated that older adults who engage in grandparenting, particularly in non-intensive care, experience a reduction in depressive symptoms, even after accounting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Overall, intergenerational support plays a mediating role in the relationship between grandparenting and associated mental health outcomes. Bidirectional emotional and financial support and receiving instrumental support were associated with lower depressive symptoms among Chinese grandparents. In general, the findings of this study suggest that grandparenting, along with intergenerational support, provides certain protective health benefits for Chinese grandparents. With rapid changes in Chinese society, further prospective longitudinal studies are needed to examine family contexts in the relationship between grandchild caregiving and associated health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults (45–60 years and over 60 years, respectively) and analyze the urban–rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function.MethodBased on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data (CHARLS), this study conducted ID matching for four waves of data from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Cognitive function was measured via Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m), word recall, and imitation drawing. Using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal research, we constructed the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) with a sample of 1,480 participants to explore the relationship between intergenerational connections and cognitive function.ResultsThis study examines the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged (45–60 years) and older adults (over 60 years) using data from the CHARLS. It identifies urban–rural and sex differences, with notable effects among rural female participants. The frequency of meeting with one child negatively predicts cognitive function (β = −0.040, p = 0.041), and the frequency of communication with one child positively predicts cognitive function (β = 0.102, 0.068, 0.041, p

Parental downward support plays an important role in urban and rural sustainable development. It is of great significance to study parental downward transfers and their motivation. However, there is no consensus on the motivation behind parental downward transfers in China. This study examines the timing and monetary impacts of social pensions on parental downward transfers and assesses the motivations behind them. We found that pension insurance encouraged rural parents to provide time and monetary support to their children. Unlike rural parents, pension insurance increased the monetary support of urban parents but inhibited their time support. Because of the higher income level of urban parents and the better organization of the domestic service market, parents have the motivation and conditions to reduce their time support and increase monetary support. Our findings highlight the importance of parental downward transfers in urban and rural sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of the social norm of intergenerational support to aging parents on fertility decisions in developing economies. The traditional expectation of receiving support from adult children in old age has historically been a significant factor in the decision to have children, especially in developing countries. The study develops a life cycle model that endogenizes fertility choices and incorporates the expectation of transfers from children based on the filial responsibility norm. We utilize household survey data from Indonesia to estimate earnings profiles and uncertainties over the life cycle, and to estimate the transfers from adult children to parents to indicate the current strength of the norm in 2000s. We conducted counterfactual experiments to explore the impact of the filial responsibility norm on fertility and found that a weakening of the norm could account for a significant proportion of the decline in the total fertility rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extension of parental financial support into young adulthood has fueled concerns in the U.S. about young people's development of independence and responsibility—financial and otherwise. This study draws on data from the Transition to Adulthood Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine young people's self-assessments of these qualities as well as their financial concerns. The findings indicate that receiving financial support from families was negatively associated with young adults' assessments of their independence and how much financial responsibility they have for themselves. It was also associated with more frequent worrying about money. Panel models offered no support for the argument that such associations result from financial assistance undermining these accomplishments, instead indicating that financial assistance is in some cases beneficial. In contrast, earlier assessments of these qualities and concerns predicted later receipt of financial support, supporting more of a selection argument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractParental support increasingly influences young people’s housing outcomes. Using OLS models, this study examines the relative effects of parental and own socioeconomic status and political resources on young homeowners’ housing quality and their temporal dynamics in Beijing, China. We find that the market transition theory has explanatory power for both generations. However, the socioeconomic status of parents outweighs that of young homeowners in influencing their multifaceted housing qualities. These housing qualities are also positively associated with parents’, but negatively with the young homeowners’ political resources. This indicates power persistence theory does not stand for the younger generation, but parental political advantages derived from the socialist system are remanent in shaping contemporary youth’s housing stratification. The more recent the acquisition of homeownership by young adult children, the stronger the positive influence of parental attributes, but the weaker the influence of the younger generation’s own attributes. This demonstrates the intergenerational reproduction of housing stratification and socio-spatial inequality becomes more pronounced as housing affordability declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the association between adult children's migration and depression among older parents in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and explore the role of intergenerational support in contributing to their depression. Data are from the eighth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), pooling a study sample of 11 CEE countries, with a cross-sectional design. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and hierarchical linear regression were conducted using a study sample of 9133 respondents. Older adults whose children migrated over 500 km were more likely to experience depression compared to those with no migrant child or all children within 500 km. Among intergenerational support, frequent parent-child contact mitigated the effects of migration on depression in older parents with all their children who migrated over 500 km. This study suggests that older parents with migrant children over 500 km away should be considered a vulnerable population at risk for mental health in CEE countries. It is crucial for local governments and policymakers to address these challenges through improving integrated mental health and social programs for better mental health outcomes among older adults in CEE countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study takes the Danish retired older adults as the research object, investigating the interrelations among smartphone use, intergenerational support and older adults' eudaimonic wellbeing through quantitative and qualitative methods. The technology acceptance model (TAM) and semi-structured in-depth interviews were employed to evaluate whether the proposed hypotheses were confirmed. The results revealed that the use of smartphones as an information technology device had an impact on the path from the attitude toward use to actual smartphone use. Also, they had a positive effect on older adults' eudaimonic wellbeing. The findings demonstrated that the design and use of smartphones are in line with the physiological characteristics of older adults, and calls on them to use smartphones healthily. This study also confirmed that the physical needs and emotional needs of intergenerational support from children can positively promote older adults' wellbeing, even though in individualistic cultures, where intergenerational support perhaps matters less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the association between different dimensions of bi-directional intergenerational support and the social participation patterns of rural older adults, while also exploring the heterogeneity of these older adults by gender and age.MethodsBased on longitudinal survey data from the ‘Well-Being of Older People in Anhui Province (WESAP)’ in 2018 and 2021, this study used latent class analysis to identify social participation patterns and used multinomial logistic regressions to explore the relationship between intergenerational support and social participation patterns among rural older adults.ResultsFirst, the social participation patterns of rural older persons can be divided into four categories: leisure type (9%), work type (11%), housekeeping type (57.9%) and family labor type (22.1%). Second, there is heterogeneity in the relationship between intergenerational support and social participation patterns in older people, among them, receiving financial support decreased the likelihood of older adults being categorized as work type and family labor type by 14 and 7.7%, respectively, while providing financial support increased the likelihood of older adults belonging to the family labor type by 7.5%; receiving caring support increased the likelihood of older parents being categorized as leisure type by 6%, while providing caring support decreased the likelihood of older parents being categorized as leisure type by 10%; emotional support is related to all patterns of social participation among older adults. Third, the effects of intergenerational support vary across subgroups based on gender and age.ConclusionTwo-way intergenerational support was significantly associated with social participation among rural older adults, and there was significant heterogeneity in this association. Children and older persons should be encouraged to strengthen two-way intergenerational mobility to give full play to the positive impact of different dimensions of intergenerational support on the social participation of older persons in rural areas, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for rural older adults.

ObjectiveLoneliness is a key social and public health issue, mainly affecting the mental health of older adults. The article aimed to explore the influence of intergenerational support from children on loneliness among older adults. Meanwhile, the article also analyzed the moderating effects of internet usage and intergenerational distance in this process.MethodsBased on the data received from 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), the ordinary least square (OLS) regression model was used to analyze the influence of intergenerational support from children on loneliness among older adults. Furthermore, the Bootstrap method was used to test the moderating effect of internet usage and intergenerational distance on the relationship between intergenerational support from children on loneliness among older adults.ResultsBaseline regression showed that economic support (β = −0.059, p

Abstract Objective This study examines the impact of caregiving on older people’s life satisfaction, focusing on the role of caring for grandchildren. The study considers individual characteristics (aging attitudes) and situational factors (intergenerational support) and aims to identify the mediating roles of aging attitudes and intergenerational support in the relationship between caregiving and life satisfaction. Method The study analyzed data from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), focusing on 5363 grandparents who reported providing care for their grandchildren in the 12 months before the survey. Life satisfaction was subjectively measured. The data was analyzed using multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and mediation analysis. Result The study found that grandparents who cared for their grandchildren have higher levels of life satisfaction. Self-aging attitudes, general aging attitudes, intergenerational economic support, intergenerational instrumental support, and intergenerational emotional support fully mediated the relationship between grandchild care and life satisfaction. Conclusion This study demonstrates that caring for grandchildren is a vital activity for older people that helps them develop positive aging attitudes and strengthens intergenerational support, thereby improving their quality of life. Hence, the government, society, families, and communities should provide more social support to older adults caring for grandchildren. This would not only benefit the health of the older people themselves but also promote intergenerational harmony and family development.

Abstract China's rapid population aging and remarkable family‐level changes have raised concerns about the weakening of its family‐based elderly care. The last decade indeed has seen a clear departure from multigenerational living to alternative living arrangements such as living with spouse only and solo living. However, ample evidence suggests that Chinese families have demonstrated considerable resilience amidst profound sociodemographic changes. This review article highlights the importance of government–society cooperation in meeting the social challenges of population aging. A key factor is the persistient filial piety norms, which enable children living far or close, migrant or nonmigrant, to rearrange financial, instrumental, and emotional support to aging parents. Equally important is the step‐in of the government to share elderly care responsibilities, provide support through deepening pension and healthcare reforms, and implement the active and healthy aging agenda. How the two factors play out over the next decade and beyond will have profound implications on the living arrangement, intergenerational support, and wellbeing of older adults in China.

Abstract Background The practice of grandparenting has been growing in popularity worldwide, particularly in Asian societies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of thorough studies investigating the mental health effects of grandchild care on grandparents, particularly within the family context. The present study aimed to explore the impact of grandparenting on depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults, taking into account the functional role of intergenerational support. Methods Using the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS, 2014 and 2018, N = 9,486), we employed the Pooled Ordinary Least Square method (POLS) to explore the association between depressive symptoms and grandparenting intensity as well as include the interaction terms to investigate the role of intergenerational support among grandparents aged from 60 to 80. Results After adjusting for control variables, both non-intensive (-0.17; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.03) and intensive (-0.69; 95% CI: -0.95, -0.43) childcare, as well as giving financial support to adult children (-0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.04) and emotional closeness with them (-0.94; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.72), were found to have a positive impact on the mental health of grandparents. Giving financial support (non-intensive: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07, -0.01; intensive: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.13, -0.01) and providing instrumental support to adult children (non-intensive: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.24, -0.01; intensive: -0.19, 95% CI: -0.37, -0.02) moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults, regardless of care intensity. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support (-0.07; 95% CI: -0.12, -0.02) only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided. Conclusion Grandchild care predicted better mental health in grandparents, mainly when they engaged in intensive grandparenting. Emotional closeness and providing financial support to adult children brought mental health benefits to grandparents involved in childcare. Giving financial support and providing instrumental support to adult children moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support from adult children only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided.

ObjectiveThis study investigated how anticipated instrumental support sources and intergenerational support influence depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults.MethodsWe employed binary logistic regression on data from 7,117 adults aged ≥60 in the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, controlling for gender, marital status, and self-rated health.Results38.89% of respondents exhibited depressive symptoms. Anticipated support from spouse and children, spouse only, children only, or other sources showed 52, 25, 46, and 40% lower odds of depression, respectively, compared with no anticipated support. Those providing financial support had 36% higher odds of depression than those without exchanges. However, those receiving financial support, receiving instrumental support, and receiving and providing financial and emotional support had 19, 14, 23, and 24% lower odds of depression.ConclusionDifferent anticipated instrumental support sources and intergenerational support influenced depression odds in older adults, suggesting potential benefits in promoting such support systems.

Objective: This study examines the impact of caregiving on older people's life satisfaction, focusing on the role of caring for grandchildren. The study considers individual characteristics (aging attitudes) and situational factors (intergenerational support) and aims to identify the mediating roles of aging attitudes and intergenerational support in the relationship between caregiving and life satisfaction. Method: The study analyzed data from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), focusing on 5363 grandparents who reported providing care for their grandchildren in the 12 months before the survey. Life satisfaction was subjectively measured. The data was analyzed using multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and mediation analysis. Result: The study found that grandparents who cared for their grandchildren have higher levels of life satisfaction. Self-aging attitudes, general aging attitudes, intergenerational economic support, intergenerational instrumental support, and intergenerational emotional support fully mediated the relationship between grandchild care and life satisfaction. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that caring for grandchildren is a vital activity for older people that helps them develop positive aging attitudes and strengthens intergenerational support, thereby improving their quality of life. Hence, the government, society, families, and communities should provide more social support to older adults caring for grandchildren. This would not only benefit the health of the older people themselves but also promote intergenerational harmony and family development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines varying patterns of exchanges in financial and residential support between parents and children. We apply a life course perspective to explore how patterns of intergenerational support unfold throughout adulthood. Using Waves 3 to 5 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we conduct a repeated measure latent class analysis and identify six pathways of intergenerational exchange. About one-third of individuals have minimal intergenerational exchange while the majority share some form of residential and financial assistance with their parents between their late teens and early forties. Upward and downward intergenerational exchanges are most common among Blacks, Hispanics, and families with less formal educational backgrounds, whereas pathways of complete independence are most common among White families. This paper challenges the notion of complete independence as a necessary marker of adulthood and maps out the diverse patterns of intergenerational exchange along multiple dimensions over the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a natural source of support for the elderly, the family is an important channel for achieving a sense of security, happiness, and worthiness in old age. In this study, we analysed the characteristics of intergenerational support in families of centenarians and explored the impact of the number of family generations on intergenerational support. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional survey between April 2020 and January 2021 among 62 elderly people aged 99+ in Rugao, China, one of six 'longevity cities' in the world. Assisted by the researchers, centenarians completed questionnaires with details pertaining to general demographics, intergenerational support, and other aspects. We used a logistic regression model to analyse the influence of the number of family generations on intergenerational support that the centenarians received with respect to economic, living, and emotional aspects. Results: Centenarians were primarily recipients of care in their families, and received intergenerational support mainly for their declined physical functions and limited self‐care ability. The study results revealed that the greater the number of generations comprising the family, the greater was the intergenerational life care and emotional comfort provided for centenarians by the family. Conclusions: In this study, we found a positive effect of the number of family generations on intergenerational support for centenarians. The government and society should promote the tradition of respecting, caring for, and honouring the elderly while paying close attention to the dynamic changes in the family structure of centenarians in promoting high‐quality and sustainable development of the people, economy, and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The practice of grandparenting has been growing in popularity worldwide, particularly in Asian societies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of thorough studies investigating the mental health effects of grandchild care on grandparents, particularly within the family context. The present study aimed to explore the impact of grandparenting on depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults, taking into account the functional role of intergenerational support. Methods: Using the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS, 2014 and 2018, N = 9,486), we employed the Pooled Ordinary Least Square method (POLS) to explore the association between depressive symptoms and grandparenting intensity as well as include the interaction terms to investigate the role of intergenerational support among grandparents aged from 60 to 80. Results: After adjusting for control variables, both non-intensive (-0.17; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.03) and intensive (-0.69; 95% CI: -0.95, -0.43) childcare, as well as giving financial support to adult children (-0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.04) and emotional closeness with them (-0.94; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.72), were found to have a positive impact on the mental health of grandparents. Giving financial support (non-intensive: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07, -0.01; intensive: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.13, -0.01) and providing instrumental support to adult children (non-intensive: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.24, -0.01; intensive: -0.19, 95% CI: -0.37, -0.02) moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults, regardless of care intensity. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support (-0.07; 95% CI: -0.12, -0.02) only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided. Conclusion: Grandchild care predicted better mental health in grandparents, mainly when they engaged in intensive grandparenting. Emotional closeness and providing financial support to adult children brought mental health benefits to grandparents involved in childcare. Giving financial support and providing instrumental support to adult children moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support from adult children only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In past and contemporary societies, kin presence and support are widely cherished for helping couples contend with parenthood. Thus, it is hypothesized that intergenerational cooperation in raising children influences fertility decisions. Despite the potential benefits of having a supportive family environment, societies with dissimilar social, structural, and geographical conditions may exhibit cross-cultural differences that are characterized by variations in family processes and reproductive outcomes. To demonstrate the influence of context, this study draws on the 2006 and 2016 East Asian Social Survey and uses generalized Poisson regression to investigate cross-national differences in the effect of intergenerational support on fertility in East Asia. The results show distinct patterns in the effect of intergenerational financial support, instrumental support, and geographic proximity on fertility. Financial support and proximity to grandparents are particularly conducive to childbearing among urban families. Instrumental support appears to be more beneficial for societies going through the second phase of the gender revolution (South Korea and Taiwan) than for societies with stronger gender role constraints (Japan). The findings highlight how context underpins the effect of intergenerational support on fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid population aging in the United States and South Korea has implications for intergenerational relationships and support between adult children and older parents. However, given the two countries’ different cultural and social norms and economic development, older adults’ perceptions and experiences of intergenerational support may differ. This study utilizes data from the 2018 wave of the Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine the relationship between intergenerational support from children to parents and the subjective well-being of older American and Korean parents. Employing the Probit model, our findings reveal significant and positive associations between receiving emotional support from adult children and the well-being of older parents in both countries. However, receiving financial transfers from adult children is negatively associated with the subjective well-being of older American parents, while this association is positive but not statistically significant among older Korean parents. Furthermore, we explored specific subgroups and found that child-to-parent emotional contact significantly contributes to the subjective well-being of fathers, individuals not living with their children, and parents in higher income percentiles. In contrast, receiving financial transfers from adult children plays a significantly positive role in the well-being of older Korean mothers and parents in lower income percentiles. These results highlight the importance of developing interventions tailored to specific countries and groups and effectively addressing the unique needs and challenges older adults face in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between the functional limitation and happiness among Chinese older people and examined the multiple mediating effects of intergenerational support (instrumental support and financial support) and intergenerational relationship.MethodData was drawn from the Chinese Family Panel Survey (CFPS) 2018 and 2020. Structural equation modeling was adopted to analyze the association among functional limitations, intergenerational support, intergenerational relationship, and the older adults happiness.ResultsThere was a significant association between the functional limitations and the lower happiness levels among the older adults. The instrumental support from adult children positively mediated the relationship between the functional limitation and the happiness. However, intergenerational relationships were reduced due to the dysfunction of the older adults, and played a negatively mediated role between the functional limitation and the happiness. In addition, instrumental and financial support play chain-mediating roles between functional limitation and happiness in older adults through intergenerational relationships.ConclusionIntergenerational relationships and instrumental support enhance the happiness of older adults with functional impairments, but their role is limited by the changing structure of modern families. Long-term care programs combined with the intergenerational support from families for people with functional impairments in old age would be more effective to reduce the burden on adult children and maintain the quality of life of the older adults.

Objective To explore the relationship between childrenJ s intergenerational support and the health of the elderly, and to provide references for improving the health of the elderly. Methods A frailty index was constructed to analyze the health status of 13 573 elderly people aged 60 and above based on the data of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS 2014 to 2018). The fixed effect model was used to analyze the relationship between children, intergenerational support and the health of the elderly, and propensity matching (PSM) was used to test the robustness. Results The average frailty index was (0.149±0.108), and the daily care provided by the children had a significant effect on the health of the elderly (P<0.001). Conclusion ChildrenJ s intergenerational support has a certain protective effect on the health of the elderly, which is mainly achieved by increasing daily care, and simple economic support and emotional communication cannot improve the health level of the elderly. While giving full play to the role of intergenerational support, it is suggested to improve the public pension service system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Receiving support from adult children may promote or be harmful for older adults' health. Poor health, however, often precedes the need for intergenerational support. To date, few studies have addressed the relationship between instrumental help (i.e. help with household chores) and older adults' self-rated health (SRH) simultaneously, thereby accounting for potential reverse causality. Moreover, little research has accounted for omitted variable bias. Methods Dynamic panel models with fixed effects provide an opportunity to address these methodological issues. Drawing on four waves of the German Ageing Survey , which provide a sample of 3,914 parents aged 40–95 years, I investigate the bidirectional linkages between instrumental help from adult children and SRH. Results Results suggest that prior receipt of instrumental help is not a significant predictor of future reported SRH. Similarly, previous SRH does not significantly predict the likelihood of receiving instrumental help at follow-up. Instead, earlier values of SRH and instrumental help are most important for predicting future SRH and instrumental help. Discussion The results shed new light on the interplay between SRH and instrumental help from adult children. The study suggests that older adults' health and support in later life are not interdependent. I discuss these findings in relation to future policies for healthy aging to focus on interventions that facilitate optimal health in the earlier stages of the life course and for adult children to provide continued support to their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined intergenerational transmission of family members' mutual support and family efficacy beliefs. Background: While social exchange theory assumes that reciprocity guides intergenerational transfers, social cognitive theory posits that family efficacy beliefs and behaviors may be acquired from vicarious experiences. This study examined these perspectives and considered cultural context and value orientations. Method: A total of 1061 parent–adult child dyads were drawn from 2018 data of the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (Taiwan). The actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) and path modeling were used for statistical analysis. Results: After controlling for demographic effects, parents' parental efficacy, rather than filial efficacy, was the key contributor to adult children's filial efficacy. No significant association was observed between adult children's and parents' upward support. Considering support type, emotional connection and housework help showed strong positive intergenerational relations. Financial provisions mainly related to filial norms. Conclusion: Role modeling had a weak effect; the results are primarily consistent with the reciprocal perspective on intergenerational relations. Implications: Although family ethics still deeply pervade Taiwanese society, parent–adult child mutual engagement, in addition to resources and demands, seems crucial for perceived family efficacy and mutual support. This study incorporates psychological factors to further explain the relationship between family efficacy and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesOlder parents continue to help children after these children have been adults for decades. We utilize a typology approach to assess who initiates the help. We ask whether profiles of help initiation are associated with how often older parents help and how they evaluate their helping behaviors.MethodsOlder parents (N = 241; Mage = 80.12) indicated the extent to which they volunteered to help children and helped per child's request. Parents reported their resources and obligation to help, child problems, frequency, and evaluation (rewards/stresses) of helping.ResultsLatent profile analysis reveals four profiles representing parents who are initiators (n = 65), responders (n = 56), initiators/responders (n = 50), and uninvolved (n = 69). Resources, needs, and individual beliefs differentiate profiles. Parents offer the same amount of help regardless of who initiates such help. Parents who are initiators/responders view helping as more rewarding than parents who are initiators and more stressful than uninvolved parents.DiscussionThis study reveals variation in the initiation of older parents' help and refines our understanding of family help in late life. Findings may suggest a parental expectation for children to be competent in adulthood regardless of their resources and willingness to help.

This study examines the effect of living arrangements on intergenerational support for older Chinese, using a nationally representative survey data of 9713 respondents (mean age = 70.18 years). The results of a generalised ordered logit and logit model showed that older adults living with a daughter received better instrumental and emotional support than those living with a son. The associations between residing with a daughter and the provision of intergenerational support varied between urban- and rural-dwelling older adults. The findings suggest that attention should be given to the gender perspective in gerontological social work practices and family support policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore how intergenerational support affects the oral healthcare or treatment-seeking behaviors of older Chinese adults and provide evidence for improving the oral health of the older adults in an aging society.MethodsData from a cross-sectional survey, the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, were used to explore the relationship between oral healthcare-seeking behavior in older adults and various independent variables, such as marital status, number of children, offspring’s education duration, parent–offspring interaction frequency, and financial/material support provided by children. The chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used.ResultsAccording to the results of data analysis, age, sex, marital status, cohabitation status, number of children, children’s education level, and financial support from children affected older adults’ oral healthcare-seeking behavior. Interviewees living with a partner and those who had 1–2 or 3–4 children showed different likelihoods of seeking oral healthcare. Moreover, interviewees whose children had higher education duration and those who received more financial/material support from their children were more likely to seek dental treatment.ConclusionRegarding the study’s outcome, financial and emotional support, as well as practical assistance from family members can significantly promote oral health-seeking behavior among older adult people. Intergenerational support can serve as a crucial mechanism for promoting oral health behaviors among the older adults or act as a valuable complement to social medical assistance, warranting increased attention.

BackgroundWith the rising of fertility cost and the implementation of the “universal three-child” policy, the model of intergenerational support for grandchild is becoming an inevitable choice for more and more families in China. As the number of grandchildren increases and the interval between births extends, will the grandchild care intention and grandparents’ health be affected?MethodsBased on the data of China Family Panel Studies from 2018 and 2020, this study used multiple linear regression and multiple mediation tests to investigate the effect of grandchild care intention and intergenerational support on the health of older adults.ResultsFirstly, actively taking care of grandchild has increased the self-rated health and mental health of older adults by 11.8 and 10.7%, respectively. Secondly, there is heterogeneity in the effect of intergenerational support from adults on health in their parents, among them, economic support improves the physical health by 5.5%; life care increases the self-rated and physical health by 3.3 and 0.8% respectively; emotional comfort improves the physical and mental health by 2.5 and 2.9%, respectively. Thirdly, grandchild care intention has a mediating effect on the health of older adults through economic support, life care, and emotional comfort.ConclusionThe grandchild care intention has positive effect on the health of older adults. The intergenerational supports (economic support, emotional comfort, and life care) have heterogeneous effects on the health of older adults, such as economic support mainly affects the physical health. Older adults who actively take care of their grandchild are more likely to gain intergenerational support and feedback from their adult children, transforming intergenerational support into a “win-win” model of resource reciprocity between generations. Based on this, it is necessary to re-establish the value identity of “caring for older adults” and “raising grandchildren” at the cultural level, continuously improve the fertility support policies at the government level and establish “caring for older adults” support platform at the social level.