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Intergenerational coresidence and subjective well-being of older adults in China: The moderating effect of living arrangement preference and intergenerational contacts

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Xu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Jinshui Wang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Jingjing Qi

    (Jiangsu University)

Abstract

Objective: Intergenerational coresidence is usually assumed to be beneficial to the subjective well-being of the Chinese elderly, but this proposition is not well supported in empirical studies. This study addresses this puzzle by incorporating older adults’ living arrangement preference and their contact with noncoresidential children into the investigation. Methods: We used data from four waves of the CLHLS in 2005–2014 and applied fixed-effects models to examine the effect of intergenerational coresidence on Chinese elderly’s subjective well-being and how this effect was moderated by their living arrangement preference and contact with noncoresidential children. Results: Intergenerational coresidence declined steadily in 2005–2014, but the concordance between individual’s actual and preferred living arrangement remained very high, and most older adults living independently maintained frequent contact with their children. Intergenerational coresidence had no effect on older adults’ subjective well-being. However, the match between an individual’s actual and preferred living arrangements and the frequent contact between parents and their noncoresidential children were important to the subjective well-being of Chinese elderly. Conclusions: Because the actual living arrangement of most of the Chinese elderly accorded with their preferred living arrangement and most older adults living independently maintained frequent contact with their children, problems resulting from the decline of intergenerational coresidence were limited. Contribution: This study provides a convincing explanation for the unexpected but repeatedly verified insignificant effect of intergenerational coresidence on Chinese elderly’s subjective well-being by incorporating two understudied factors into the analysis: older adults’ living arrangement preference and their contact with noncoresidential children.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Xu & Jinshui Wang & Jingjing Qi, 2019. "Intergenerational coresidence and subjective well-being of older adults in China: The moderating effect of living arrangement preference and intergenerational contacts," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(48), pages 1347-1372.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:41:y:2019:i:48
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2019.41.48
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Puxiang Ren & Jakob Emiliussen & Regina Christiansen & Søren Engelsen & Søren Harnow Klausen, 2022. "Filial Piety, Generativity and Older Adults’ Wellbeing and Loneliness in Denmark and China," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 3069-3090, October.
    2. Wei Huang & Yiping Wang & Hantao Wu & Yi Zhou, 2025. "The motherhood penalty and low fertility in China: a pseudo-event study," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 1-29, March.
    3. Bo Kyong Seo & Ji Hye Kim, 2022. "Intergenerational Coresidence and Life Satisfaction in Old Age: The Moderating Role of Homeownership," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 3199-3216, October.
    4. Xuechao Qian, 2025. "A Nation of Two Tales: The Dual Intergenerational Economic Transmission in Rural and Urban China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(3), pages 1-38, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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