The impact of widowhood on the quality of life of older adults: the mediating role of intergenerational support from children

• Published in: BMC geriatrics 2024-08, Vol.24 (1), p.658-11, Article 658
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xiaoting, Ning, Baicheng, Xia, Fang, Wang, Bingmei, Li, Yunqiang, Zhang, Pengqi, Zhang, Xinyue, Yang, Dongsheng, Ji, Guangcheng, Li, Mingquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Analysis; Children; China - epidemiology; Families & family life; Female; Geriatrics; Grief; Health aspects; Human capital; Humans; Hypotheses; Intergenerational Relations; Intergenerational support; Life span; Male; Marital status; Mediating effects; Middle Aged; Older people; Psychological aspects; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Social aspects; Social networks; Social Support; Statistical analysis; Variables; Well being; Widowhood; Widowhood - psychology
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05244-2

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. 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. 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. 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. Not applicable.