Effect of Children’s Support on Depression among Older Adults Living Alone or with a Spouse: A Comparative Analysis between Urban and Rural Areas of China

Abstract

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and severe population aging, older adults living alone or with a spouse in China have become a special and vulnerable group that deserve more research attention. Based on a national sample of 3886 older adults (≥60 years old) living alone or with a spouse, we used multiple linear regression models to investigate the effect of children’s support on depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse in China. A comparative analysis was conducted to examine the differences between urban and rural areas. The results indicated that financial support from children was negatively correlated with depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse, especially in rural areas. Their children’s frequency of contact also significantly alleviated depression among non-cohabiting parents in rural areas, but not for the same types of parents living in urban areas. Compared with financial support, their children’s frequency of contact contributes more to decreasing depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse. The effect of their children’s support on depression is comparable to that of demographic characteristics, which are usually deemed as important factors in the psychological health of older adults. Moreover, we found that the marginal effects of self-rated health and pain were significant and much higher than other control variables, especially in the urban model.

Effect of Receiving Financial Support from Adult Children on Depression among Older Persons and the Mediating Role of Social Participation

“…If individuals receive practical and emotional support from their social network, they will be more effective in utilizing their resources and be less prone to suffer from physical and psychological issues [7]. In the network of social support, support from family was rated to be more important than other types of support, such as support from community and government [15]. Financially speaking, receiving support from adult children may alleviate financial stress, improve nutrition and enable older persons to cope better financially with setbacks [16].…”

The impact of grandparenting on mental health among rural middle-aged and older adults in China: exploring the role of children’s support

“…Objectively, adult children who benefit from grandparenting can invest more energy in work, potentially earning higher incomes and thus providing economic rewards ( 53 , 54 ). In rural China, where traditional family ethics, particularly unconditional filial piety, are undergoing significant transformations ( 55 ), the necessity of intergenerational resource exchange becomes pronounced ( 21 ). In this context, grandparenting initiates a reciprocal flow of resources, with older adults contributing through childcare and children providing necessary economic and emotional support in response ( 56 ).…”

Trends in the prevalence of social isolation among middle and older adults in China from 2011 to 2018: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

“…In addition, an age-period-cohort analysis confirmed this increasing trend in the prevalence of social isolation over time. A number of issues brought about by an ageing population in the context of rapid urbanization and economic development in China might exacerbate social isolation, such as the ‘rise of living alone’, the ‘epidemic of loneliness’ and dramatic lifestyle changes [ 54 – 56 ].…”