The evolution of support networks among unmarried childless older men in rural China

Unmarried childless older men in rural China represent a growing group who face distinct care situations. Support networks are essential to their health and care, yet those networks remain understudied. This study aims to investigate the support networks available to this group, how they change over time, and the factors affecting their development. Guided by a situational perspective on care, the study conceptualizes support networks as constructed, negotiated, and practiced by childless older adults and their care convoys. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 childless older men in rural northern China. Interview data were thematically analyzed and complemented by insights from village officials and extended kin. Four care situations were identified: sibling-based care, extended kin-based care, self-care with state support, and assisted self-care with unmet needs. The study found that participants received kin support when available, with siblings the most common primary caregivers, followed by nephews. Participants drew on early-life relationship building, reciprocal care, and resource exchange to access this support. However, most lacked kin support, relying instead on state welfare, which reflects broader structural shifts, such as weakening family ethics, stigma surrounding childlessness and poverty, and expanding welfare provision. The findings suggest that intersecting factors such as childlessness, gender, poverty, and disability shape access to care and support for childless men and highlight the need for additional care policies for this vulnerable population.