IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v394y2026ics027795362501192x.html

Family structure, “Kinlessness”, and cognitive decline: Social connectedness and contextual variation in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Mair, Christine A.
  • Ornstein, Katherine A.

Abstract

The increasing global population of older adults who are unpartnered, childless, or both (“kinless”) may be at enhanced risk of cognitive decline due to a lack of nuclear family ties, yet this topic has not been examined empirically. Existing theory and evidence suggests that the direct and indirect effects of social connectedness can partially offset cognitive decline, but it is unknown if connectedness can buffer cognitive disadvantage among the “kinless”. These patterns may be further complicated by cross-national variation in country region, wealth, fertility, long-term care spending, and levels of connectedness. We test these hypotheses and document variation across country contexts by analyzing cognitive decline over a 7-year period (2015–2022) for 16,045 adults aged 65+ across 17 European countries using individual-level data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2015 and 2022) and country-level data from multiple sources. We find evidence that “kinless” older adults are at higher risk of cognitive decline, yet this risk is primarily within a small sample of Western European countries. Social connectedness is associated with less cognitive decline, and partially but minimally buffers disadvantages among the “kinless.” “Kinless” older adults who are highly connected in countries with high levels of connectedness show no cognitive disadvantage. We discuss these findings in light of diverse country contexts and emphasize the need for additional empirical examinations of existing hypotheses to identify the risks and resources available to the growing global “kinless” population.

Suggested Citation

  • Mair, Christine A. & Ornstein, Katherine A., 2026. "Family structure, “Kinlessness”, and cognitive decline: Social connectedness and contextual variation in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 394(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:394:y:2026:i:c:s027795362501192x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118861
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027795362501192X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118861?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sanna L Read & Emily M D Grundy, 2017. "Fertility History and Cognition in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(6), pages 1021-1031.
    2. Bruno Arpino & Christine A. Mair & Nekehia T. Quashie & Radoslaw Antczak, 2022. "Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic—are unpartnered and childless older adults at higher risk?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1327-1338, December.
    3. Martina Luchetti & Thomas Ledermann & Damaris Aschwanden & Jana Nikitin & Páraic S O’Súilleabháin & Yannick Stephan & Antonio Terracciano & Angelina R Sutin & Rodlescia S Sneed, 2022. "Actor and Partner Effect of Loneliness on Episodic Memory and Verbal Fluency: A Dyadic Multilevel Analysis of Romantic Couples Across 28 Countries [Associations of loneliness in older married men and women]," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(12), pages 2202-2211.
    4. Rachel Margolis & Ashton M. Verdery, 2017. "Older Adults Without Close Kin in the United States," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(4), pages 688-693.
    5. Silvana Miceli & Laura Maniscalco & Domenica Matranga, 2019. "Social networks and social activities promote cognitive functioning in both concurrent and prospective time: evidence from the SHARE survey," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 145-154, June.
    6. María-Victoria Zunzunegui & Beatriz E. Alvarado & Teodoro Del Ser & Angel Otero, 2003. "Social Networks, Social Integration, and Social Engagement Determine Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Spanish Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 93-100.
    7. Leist, Anja K. & Glymour, M. Maria & Mackenbach, Johan P. & van Lenthe, Frank J. & Avendano, Mauricio, 2013. "Time away from work predicts later cognitive function: differences by activity during leave," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51630, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Valeria Bordone & Daniela Weber, 2012. "Number of children and cognitive abilities in later life," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 10(1), pages 95-126.
    9. Marta Pittavino & Bruno Arpino & Elena Pirani, 2025. "Kinlessness at Older Ages: Prevalence and Heterogeneity in 27 Countries," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 80(1), pages 371-392.
    10. Berkman, Lisa F. & Glass, Thomas & Brissette, Ian & Seeman, Teresa E., 2000. "From social integration to health: Durkheim in the new millennium," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(6), pages 843-857, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Luis Aranda & Martin Siyaranamual, 2014. "Are Smarter People Better Samaritans? Effect of Cognitive Abilities on Pro-Social Behaviors," Working Papers 2014:06, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    2. Harling, Guy & Kobayashi, Lindsay C. & Farrell, Meagan T. & Wagner, Ryan G. & Tollman, Stephen & Berkman, Lisa, 2020. "Social contact, social support, and cognitive health in a population-based study of middle-aged and older men and women in rural South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    3. Ellwardt, Lea & Aartsen, Marja & Deeg, Dorly & Steverink, Nardi, 2013. "Does loneliness mediate the relation between social support and cognitive functioning in later life?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 116-124.
    4. Thomas, Patricia A., 2011. "Gender, social engagement, and limitations in late life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(9), pages 1428-1435.
    5. Ellwardt, Lea & Van Tilburg, Theo G. & Aartsen, Marja J., 2015. "The mix matters: Complex personal networks relate to higher cognitive functioning in old age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 107-115.
    6. Khaksar, Seyed Mohammad Sadegh & Khosla, Rajiv & Chu, Mei Tai & Shahmehr, Fatemeh S., 2016. "Service Innovation Using Social Robot to Reduce Social Vulnerability among Older People in Residential Care Facilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 438-453.
    7. Marian Vasile & Marja Aartsen & Iuliana Precupetu & Laura Tufă & Diana-Alexandra Dumitrescu & Rosa Maria Radogna, 2024. "Association Between Social Isolation and Mental Well-Being in Later Life. What is the Role of Loneliness?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(1), pages 245-267, February.
    8. Vicki A. Freedman & Rachel Margolis & Ashton M. Verdery & Emily M. Agree & Esther M. Friedman, 2026. "The Future Availability of Family Caregivers: Implications for Late-Life Care Gaps," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 45(3), pages 1-20, June.
    9. Xiuhai Xiong & Lingbo Liu & Zhenghong Peng & Hao Wu, 2021. "Physical Activities in Public Squares: The Impact of Companionship on Chinese Residents’ Health," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
    10. Marta Pittavino & Bruno Arpino & Elena Pirani, 2025. "Kinlessness at Older Ages: Prevalence and Heterogeneity in 27 Countries," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 80(1), pages 371-392.
    11. Rossella Miglio & Chiara Puglisi & Rosella Rettaroli & Giulia Roli & Francesco Scalone, 2024. "Frailty in Europe: the role of social networks and activity participation," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 78(2), pages 185-196, April-Jun.
    12. Rosaria Lumino & Giancarlo Ragozini & Marijtje Duijn & Maria Prosperina Vitale, 2017. "A mixed-methods approach for analysing social support and social anchorage of single mothers’ personal networks," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 779-797, March.
    13. Jenny Gierveld & Pearl A. Dykstra & Niels Schenk, 2012. "Living arrangements, intergenerational support types and older adult loneliness in Eastern and Western Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 27(7), pages 167-200.
    14. Damiano Fiorillo & Giuseppe Lubrano Lavadera & Nunzia Nappo, 2020. "Individual Heterogeneity in the Association Between Social Participation and Self-rated Health: A Panel Study on BHPS," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(2), pages 645-667, September.
    15. Saverio Minardi, 2025. "Sociodemographic variation in family structures and geographic proximity between adult children and parents in Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 52(25), pages 849-868.
    16. Ayoub, Ali & Gjorgiev, Blaže & Sansavini, Giovanni, 2018. "Cooling towers performance in a changing climate: Techno-economic modeling and design optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1133-1143.
    17. Michele Belloni & Claudia Villosio, 2014. "Training and wages of older workers in Europe," Working Papers 2014:27, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    18. Daniel Graeber, 2017. "Does More Education Protect against Mental Health Problems?," DIW Roundup: Politik im Fokus 113, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    19. Zihan Cai & Ming Lu, 2018. "Social Integration Measurement of Inhabitants in Historic Blocks: The Case of Harbin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    20. Plamen Nikolov & Steve Yeh, 2021. "Reaping the Rewards Later: How Education Improves Old-Age Cognition in South Africa," Papers 2109.02177, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2021.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:eee:socmed:v:394:y:2026:i:c:s027795362501192x. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    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.