Geographic proximity to siblings in older adulthood

Alyona Artamonova and Brian Joseph Gillespie
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Alyona Artamonova: Väestöliitto (Population Research Institute)
Brian Joseph Gillespie: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Demographic Research, 2023, vol. 49, issue 7, 143-156

Abstract: Background: Research on older adults’ geographic proximity to their family has focused almost exclusively on intergenerational distances, while factors associated with intragenerational proximity have received little attention. Objective: We explore associations between (1) having at least one sibling nearby and characteristics of older adults (aged 65‒84), and (2) proximity to siblings and characteristics of dyads of siblings. Methods: Drawing on Swedish population register data from 2016, we use multi-level logistic regression models to investigate individual-, dyad-, and family-level determinants of close proximity to siblings. Results: Based on information about 987,486 individuals nested within 475,644 family groups, nearly 35% of Swedish older adults have their closest sibling living within 10 km.The likelihood of living close to at least one sibling is higher for those with a parent nearby, without partners and children, the less-educated, and living in urban areas and/or their counties of birth. This likelihood decreases with age. At the family level, having more than one sibling, same-gender siblings, and only full siblings are associated with living near a sibling. Based on information about 814,506 dyads, the propensity of close intragenerational distance is higher for those with a parent nearby, without partners or children, brothers, full siblings, the less-educated, and those living in counties of birth and urban areas. Contribution: This study contributes to the knowledge about the geography of siblings – the family members that might emerge as more active players in older adults’ family networks.

Keywords: geographical proximity; older adults; population; register data; Sweden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:49:y:2023:i:7

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2023.49.7

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