Childlessness and Health Among Older Adults: Variation Across Five Outcomes and 20 Countries

Nekehia T Quashie, Bruno Arpino, Radoslaw Antczak, Christine A Mair and Deborah Carr

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2021, vol. 76, issue 2, 348-359

Abstract: ObjectivesNo previous study to the best of our knowledge has examined the association between childlessness and health using a wide range of countries and health outcomes. This study improves previous literature by examining the relationship between “childlessness” (1 = childless for any reason, 0 = parent of biological, step, or adopted child) and health across 20 countries and five health outcomes.MethodsDrawing on cross-sectional harmonized data from the family of Health and Retirement Surveys across the United States (HRS, Wave 11), Europe (SHARE, Waves 4 and 5), Mexico (MHAS, Wave 3), and China (CHARLS, Wave 2), we use logistic regression models to estimate the association between childlessness and poor health (poor self-rated health, 1 or more ADL limitations, 1 or more IADL limitations, 1 or more chronic conditions, and depression) in a sample of adults aged 50 and older across 20 countries (N = 109,648).ResultsOur results point to an absence of associations between childlessness and health, and suggest that childlessness may be associated with better (e.g., Mexico, Hungary) or worse health (e.g., Austria, Estonia, Netherlands, Poland) in certain contexts and for certain measures.DiscussionWe discuss these findings in light of the meaning of childlessness, as well as cross-national economic, social, and cultural contexts to provide suggestions for aging policy and future research.

Keywords: Cross-national; Family; Global aging; Harmonized data; Well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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