IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/dem/demres/v43y2020i15.html

Trends in living arrangements and their impact on the mortality of older adults: Belgium 1991‒2012

Author

Listed:
  • Michel Poulain

    (Tallinna Ülikool)

  • Luc Dal

    (Université catholique de Louvain)

  • Anne Herm

    (Tallinna Ülikool)

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that the distribution of older people by living arrangement has changed and that old-age mortality differs by living arrangement. However, how these changes affect the total number of deaths has not been investigated. Objective: Our aim is to differentiate the effects on mortality of the change in the distribution of the population and the change in mortality rates associated with each type of living arrangement. Methods: Continuous observation of the population aged 60 and older for the period 1991–2012 in Belgium provides a unique opportunity to analyze changes in the population and in mortality by living arrangement. A simple decomposition method is used to examine to what extent these changes have influenced the total number of deaths. Results: The distribution of the population by living arrangement and the age-standardised mortality rates by living arrangement have changed remarkably. The overall effects of these changes on the total number of deaths offset each other, whereas the distribution of the number of deaths by living arrangement displays a large variation. Conclusions: This paper shows important changes in the distribution of the population and in mortality rates by living arrangement but only limited change in the total number of deaths. An important change occurred in the distribution of the population by their last living arrangement before death. Contribution: This paper highlights long-term trends in population and mortality rates by living arrangement in older age and also the distribution of the last living arrangement before death, which has important implications concerning care of the most elderly.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Poulain & Luc Dal & Anne Herm, 2020. "Trends in living arrangements and their impact on the mortality of older adults: Belgium 1991‒2012," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(15), pages 401-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:43:y:2020:i:15
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2020.43.15
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol43/15/43-15.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.4054/DemRes.2020.43.15?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vicki A. Freedman & Jennifer C. Cornman & Deborah Carr, 2014. "Editor's choice Is Spousal Caregiving Associated With Enhanced Well-Being? New Evidence From the Panel Study of Income Dynamics," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(6), pages 861-869.
    2. Nico Keilman & Solveig Christiansen, 2010. "Norwegian Elderly Less Likely to Live Alone in the Future," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 26(1), pages 47-72, February.
    3. Dmitry Tumin, 2018. "Does Marriage Protect Health? A Birth Cohort Comparison," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(2), pages 626-643, June.
    4. Tineke Fokkema & Aart C. Liefbroer, 2008. "Trends in living arrangements in Europe: Convergence or divergence?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(36), pages 1351-1418.
    5. Davis, M.A. & Neuhaus, J.M. & Moritz, D.J. & Segal, M.R., 1992. "Living arrangements and survival among middle-aged and older adults in the NHANES I epidemiologic follow-up study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(3), pages 401-406.
    6. Tapani Valkonen & Pekka T Martikainen & Jenni Blomgren, 2004. "Increasing excess mortality among non-married elderly people in developed countries," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 2(12), pages 305-330.
    7. Tsang, Eric W. K., 2014. "Old and New," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(03), pages 390-390, November.
    8. Davis, M.A. & Moritz, D.J. & Neuhaus, J.M. & Barclay, J.D. & Gee, L., 1997. "Living arrangements, changes in living arrangements, and survival among community dwelling older adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(3), pages 371-377.
    9. Roland Rau & Eugeny Soroko & Domantas Jasilionis & James W. Vaupel, 2008. "Continued Reductions in Mortality at Advanced Ages," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 34(4), pages 747-768, December.
    10. James Vaupel & Kenneth Manton & Eric Stallard, 1979. "The impact of heterogeneity in individual frailty on the dynamics of mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 16(3), pages 439-454, August.
    11. David Reher & Miguel Requena, 2018. "Living Alone in Later Life: A Global Perspective," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 44(3), pages 427-454, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Espuny Pujol, Ferran & Hancock, Ruth & Morciano, Marcello, 2021. "Trends in survival of older care home residents in England: A 10-year multi-cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    2. Moisés H. Sandoval & Marcela E. Alvear Portaccio, 2022. "Marital Status, Living Arrangements and Mortality at Older Ages in Chile, 2004–2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Christopher Julian & D'Lane Compton & Gayle Kaufman, 2026. "Partnership patterns and living arrangements of LGBTQ+ identifying US adults: Estimates from a probability-based survey," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 54(11), pages 351-370.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Moisés H. Sandoval & Marcela E. Alvear Portaccio, 2022. "Marital Status, Living Arrangements and Mortality at Older Ages in Chile, 2004–2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Serena Vigezzi & Cosmo Strozza, 2024. "Differences in mortality before retirement: The role of living arrangements and marital status in Denmark," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 50(20), pages 515-546.
    3. Albert Esteve & David S. Reher, 2021. "Rising Global Levels of Intergenerational Coresidence Among Young Adults," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 47(3), pages 691-717, September.
    4. Trukeschitz, Birgit & Hajji, Assma & Kieninger, Judith & Malley, Juliette & Linnosmaa, Issmo & Forder, Julien, 2021. "Investigating factors influencing quality-of-life effects of home care services in Austria, England, and Finland: a comparative analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106222, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Basellini, Ugofilippo & Camarda, Carlo Giovanni & Booth, Heather, 2023. "Thirty years on: A review of the Lee–Carter method for forecasting mortality," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1033-1049.
    6. Glenn Sandström & Lena Karlsson, 2019. "The educational gradient of living alone: A comparison among the working-age population in Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(55), pages 1645-1670.
    7. Michal Engelman & Vladimir Canudas‐Romo & Emily M. Agree, 2010. "The Implications of Increased Survivorship for Mortality Variation in Aging Populations," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 36(3), pages 511-539, September.
    8. Albert Esteve & David S. Reher & Rocío Treviño & Pilar Zueras & Anna Turu, 2020. "Living Alone over the Life Course: Cross‐National Variations on an Emerging Issue," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(1), pages 169-189, March.
    9. Adam Ka-Lok Cheung & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, 2021. "Socioeconomic development and young adults’ propensity of living in one-person households: Compositional and contextual effects," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(11), pages 277-306.
    10. Basellini, Ugofilippo & Camarda, Carlo Giovanni & Booth, Heather, 2022. "Thirty years on: A review of the Lee-Carter method for forecasting mortality," SocArXiv 8u34d, Center for Open Science.
    11. repec:osf:socarx:8u34d_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Dennis M. Feehan, 2018. "Separating the Signal From the Noise: Evidence for Deceleration in Old-Age Death Rates," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2025-2044, December.
    13. Dimiter Philipov & Sergei Scherbov, 2016. "Differences by union status in health and mortality at older ages: Results for 16 European countries," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(19), pages 535-556.
    14. Ali Shalizar Jalali, 2018. "Male Fertility as a Bull’s Eye for Mastocytosis," Global Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 3(3), pages 58-60, February.
    15. Rujirutana Mandhachitara & Randall Shannon, 2016. "The Formation and Sustainability of same Product Retail Store Clusters in A Modern Mega City," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 107(5), pages 567-581, December.
    16. Wolfgang Drobetz & Lars Hornuf & Paul P. Momtaz & Niclas Schermann, 2025. "Token-Based Crowdfunding: Investor Choice and the Optimal Timing of Initial Coin Offerings," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 49(1), pages 232-282, January.
    17. Rachel Margolis & Laura Wright, 2017. "Older Adults With Three Generations of Kin: Prevalence, Correlates, and Transfers," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(6), pages 1067-1072.
    18. Joan Calzada & Begoña García-Mariñoso & Jordi Ribé & Rafael Rubio & David Suárez, 2018. "Fiber deployment in Spain," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 256-274, June.
    19. Guido Busca, 2021. "Production of Gasolines and Monocyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: From Fossil Raw Materials to Green Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-32, July.
    20. Jose Pina-Sánchez & John Paul Gosling, 2020. "Tackling selection bias in sentencing data analysis: a new approach based on a scale of severity," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 1047-1073, June.
    21. Hui Yan & Guixiang Liu, 2021. "Fire’s Effects on Grassland Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

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

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:43:y:2020:i:15. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Editorial Office (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.demogr.mpg.de/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.