Co-residence with children as a mediator between widowhood and loneliness in older adults

• Published in: BMC geriatrics Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 787 - 15
• Main Authors: Jiao, Kaishan, Pang, Xiuyun, Hu, Wen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 25.09.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult children; Adult Children - psychology; Age; Aged; Aged patients; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Care and treatment; Causal inference; Causal mediation analysis; Children; China; China - epidemiology; Families & family life; Female; Gender; Health aspects; Humans; Living arrangements; Loneliness; Loneliness - psychology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Moderated mediation analysis; Older people; Psychological aspects; Public health; Residence Characteristics; Social aspects; Social interactions; Social networks; Social support; Widowhood; Widowhood - psychology; China; Loneliness; Widowhood; Causal mediation analysis; Moderated mediation analysis; Living arrangements; China
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05363-w

Loneliness in older adults, exacerbated by widowhood, is a significant public health concern. While widowhood can lead to changes in living arrangements, its impact on loneliness may vary across cultural contexts. In Western societies, widowhood often results in older adults living alone, which can intensify feelings of loneliness. However, in China, the cultural norm of filial piety and multigenerational households may lead to different outcomes. As few studies have explored this connection over time, this research seeks to bridge this gap using data from older Chinese adults. Using 16 years of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which covers 21,986 individuals aged 65-104 years, we conducted causal mediation analysis to test if changes in living arrangements (i.e., living alone versus with children) serve as a mediator between widowhood and loneliness. The potential variation in this mediation effect by gender and age was also evaluated. Spousal loss was associated with an increase in loneliness. However, living with adult children post-loss reduced this emotional strain compared to living alone. The mediating influence of living arrangements was notably stronger for women than men and intensified with age in long term. In the short term, the mediating impact of living arrangements is significantly greater, particularly for older adults under 80 years old. Alterations in living arrangements play a pivotal role in mediating the effects of widowhood on loneliness among China's older adults. Encouraging co-residence with adult children post-spousal loss, especially for older women and the eldest age groups, might mitigate social isolation. These insights both deepen our theoretical understanding and suggest interventions to enhance the well-being of widowed older adults.