Living arrangements in later life

Dykstra, Pearl A.

doi:10.4337/9781788975544.00021

Research Handbook on the Sociology of the Family 2021

DOI: 10.4337/9781788975544.00021

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Living arrangements in later life

Pearl A. Dykstra¹

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2024

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Cited by 3 publications

References 71 publications

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Cultural contexts differentially shape parents’ loneliness and wellbeing during the empty nest period

Hartanto,

Sim,

Lee

et al. 2024

Commun Psychol

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The coming decades will see a substantial increase in the population of older adults, accompanied by significant demographic and family structure changes worldwide. As a result, the empty nest period—the postparental phase in parents’ lives when their children have left home and they are no longer engaged in childrearing—is becoming an increasingly common experience in Western and Asian cultures. The current theoretical review examines the psychological consequences of the empty nest period on loneliness and well-being across cultures, emphasizing the impact of cultural factors on these experiences. By synthesizing research from Western and Asian contexts, we explore two primary theoretical mechanisms—role loss and role strain relief—that shape the postparental phase’s psychological outcomes. Our review reveals that while some parents experience reduced well-being due to role loss, others benefit from role strain relief and increased social engagement. We highlight how cultural differences in familial roles, gender roles, social expectations regarding nest-leaving, and social participation patterns moderate these mechanisms. We propose a comprehensive cultural framework, along with a discussion of culturally sensitive interventions to enhance the well-being of empty nesters globally.

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Cultural contexts differentially shape parents’ loneliness and wellbeing during the empty nest period

Hartanto,

Sim,

Lee

et al. 2024

Commun Psychol

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How Accommodative Are Houses in Trinidad? Implications for Older Persons With Disabilities

Parey

Sinanan

2023

Housing Policy Debate

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A Brief Report on Living Arrangements Following Gray Divorce

Brown

Lin

Mellencamp

2023

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

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Objectives We offer new insights on how older adults in the U.S. navigate the aftermath of gray divorce (i.e., divorce that occurs among adults aged 50+) by describing their living arrangements upon divorce and tracking the stability of these configurations over time. Living arrangements are important to decipher because they are linked to health, well-being, and longevity. Methods Using data from the 1998-2014 Health and Retirement Study, we uncovered patterns of U.S. older adult living arrangements upon divorce (N = 1,057), distinguishing among those who lived alone, lived with others, and lived with a new partner. Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to assess how individual characteristics (demographics, marital biography, economic resources, health, and social ties) were associated with these configurations. Cumulative survival probabilities gauged the relative stability of these three living arrangements. Results About half of U.S. adults lived alone upon gray divorce, another one-third lived with others, and the remaining 14% lived with a new partner. Adults living with a new partner tended to exhibit the most advantaged sociodemographic profiles whereas those living solo or with others were largely comparable. More than 70% of adults experienced a subsequent living arrangement transition if they lived with others upon divorce, versus just 50% of those living alone and only 30% of those with a new partner. Discussion After divorce, older adults reside in a range of living arrangements, some of which are more stable than others. Future work should address whether and how these arrangements and their durability are related to post-divorce adjustment.

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Living arrangements in later life

Cited by 3 publications

References 71 publications

Cultural contexts differentially shape parents’ loneliness and wellbeing during the empty nest period

Cultural contexts differentially shape parents’ loneliness and wellbeing during the empty nest period

How Accommodative Are Houses in Trinidad? Implications for Older Persons With Disabilities

A Brief Report on Living Arrangements Following Gray Divorce

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