Fertility Decline, Family Structure, and Support for Older Persons in Latin America and Asia

Abstract

The timing of the demographic transition has significant implications for kin availability and support.

Cross‐national Differences in Relationships of Work Demands, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intentions With Work–family Conflict

“…Whereas people in individualistic countries tend to reside in nuclear families comprising a couple with dependent children, people in collectivistic countries often reside in families comprising more generations. Glaser et al (2006) summarized data from Asia and Latin America showing that the majority of elderly coreside with their children or live near them, compared to rates between 5% and 15% in western society. They further note that coresiding elderly are more likely to provide domestic assistance than non‐coresident elderly.…”

Functional disability and psychological well-being in later life: Does source of support matter?

“…The result provides important practice and policy information in predicting the optimal care arrangement and improved program delivery that is culturally appropriate and effective. While family was found to be the most popular source of instrumental support for the elderly in Taiwan, there is a decreased availability of family members to perform caregiver function (Glaser et al, 2006). It emphasizes that future policy-making and servicedelivery should focus on encouraging partnerships between natural helpers and health care professionals.…”

Gender, Aging and Widowhood

“…Research on Latin America documents that countries at later stages of the demographic transition have larger proportions of older adults living alone than do countries at earlier stages of transitions. Data from the Survey on Health and WellBeing of Elders (SABE), a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults in seven major urban areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, shows that Argentina and Uruguay have undergone steeper and more rapid fertility declines than Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Mexico; the former two countries have substan- tially lower rates of parent-child coresidence than the latter (Glaser et al 2006). To date, demographers have only limited evidence of a widespread move away from parent-child coresidence.…”