The Intergenerational Co-residence and Happiness of Elders in Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
บทคัดย่อ
Intergenerational relationships play a pivotal role in the lives of the elder population, offering a myriad of benefits that contribute to their well-being and societal cohesion. Overall, intergenerational relationships are deeply woven into the fabric of Asian societies, playing a crucial role in fostering respect and support for elders and promoting older persons’ happiness. Hence, the aims of this study are twofold: firstly, to scrutinize the impact of living arrangements on the happiness levels of the elderly in Thailand, and secondly, to explore the influence of the gender of a co-residing child on the happiness experienced in old age. This paper employed data from the 2021 Survey of the Older Persons in Thailand collected by National Statistics Office (NSO). Logistic regression is used to explore the related factors of happiness among the elderly. Results showed that compared to living alone, living with at least one child is positively associated with older persons’ happiness. Specifically, living with daughter is positively associated with the happiness of older persons, compared to living with son. Various demographic and socioeconomic factors are linked to the happiness of older individuals. Happiness tends to decline with age among the elderly. Those with intermediate and high levels of education exhibit a greater likelihood of happiness compared to those with lower educational attainment. Additionally, positive correlations exist between health status and happiness levels. Moreover, higher income among older adults is associated with increased happiness. Geographically, older individuals residing in regions such as the North, South, Northeast, and Central areas tend to report higher levels of happiness compared to those living in Bangkok. The present findings suggest that the family is an essential support system for older adults. Policymakers should recognize role of family in promoting the happiness of older adults. For example, the government can implement tax deductions for the working population to encourage intergenerational co-residence. Additionally, the government can give subsidies for disadvantaged elders and household with financial constraints to alleviate the burden of old-age support providers.
Article Details
อนุญาตภายใต้เงื่อนไข Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
เอกสารอ้างอิง
Aranda, L. (2015). Doubling up: A gift or a shame? Intergenerational households and parental depression of older Europeans. Social Science & Medicine, 134, 12–22.
Bai, X., Li, Z., Chen, J., Liu, C. and Wu, X. (2020). Socioeconomic inequalities in mental distress and life satisfaction among older Chinese men and women: The role of family functioning. Health and Social Care in the Community, 28(4), 1270–1281.
Baumann, D., Ruch, W., Margelisch, K., Gander, F. and Wagner, L. (2020). Character strengths and life satisfaction in later life: An analysis of different living conditions. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15(2), 329-347.
Bordone, V. (2015). Est modus in rebus: A longitudinal study of intergenerational solidarity and locus of control. Ageing and Society, 35(6), 1242–1277.
Chan, A., Malhotra, C., Malhotra, R. and Østbye, T. (2011). Living arrangements, social networks and depressive symptoms among older men and women in Singapore. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(6), 630-639.
Chen, F. and Short, S. E. (2008). Household context and subjective well-being among the oldest old in China. Journal of Family Issues, 29(10), 1379-1403.
Chen, W. (2012). How education enhances happiness: Comparison of mediating factors in four east Asian countries. Social Indicators Research, 106(1), 117-131.
Chiang, H. H. and Lee, T. S. H. (2018). Family relations, sense of coherence, happiness and perceived health in retired Taiwanese: Analysis of a conceptual model. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 18(1), 154-160.
Chou, K. L. and Chi, I. (1999). Determinants of life satisfaction in Hong Kong Chinese elderly: A longitudinal study. Aging and Mental Health, 3(4), 328-335.
Chyi, H. and Mao, S. (2012). The determinants of happiness of China’s elderly population. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13, 167–185.
Courtin, E. and Avendano, M. (2016). Under one roof: The effect of co-residing with adult children on depression in later life. Social Science & Medicine, 168, 140–149.
Dolan, P., Peasgood, T. and White, M. (2008). Do we really know what makes us happy? A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being. Journal of Economic Psychology, 29(1), 94-122.
Frazier, P., Arikian, N., Benson, S., Losoff, A. and Maurer, S. (1996). Desire for marriage and life satisfaction among unmarried heterosexual adults. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 13(2), 225-239.
Grundy, E. and Murphy, M. (2018). Coresidence with a child and happiness among older widows in Europe: Does gender of the child matter?. Population, Space and Place, 24(3), e2102.
Grundy, E. (2000). Co-residence of mid-life children with their elderly parents in England and Wales, changes between 1981 and 1991. Population Studies, 54(2), 193–206.
Hwang, E. J. and Sim I. O. (2021). Association of living arrangements with happiness attributes among older adults. BMC Geriatrics, 21, 1-14.
Deary, I. J., Corley, J., Gow, A. J., Harris, S. E., Houlihan, L. M., Marioni, R. E., et al. (2009). Age-associated cognitive decline. British Medical Bulletin, 92(1), 135–152.
Jeon, G. S., Jang, S. N., Rhee, S. J., Kawachi, I. and Cho, S. I. (2007). Gender differences in correlates of mental health among elderly Koreans. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 62(5), S323-S329.
Khodabakhsh, S. (2022). Factors affecting life satisfaction of older adults in Asia: A systematic review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 1289-1304.
Li, Y. and Mutchler, J. E. (2020). Older adults and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 32(4–5), 477–487.
Maruyama, S. (2012). "Inter Vivos health transfers: Final days of Japanese elderly parents," Discussion Papers 2012-20, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
Matsuura, T. and Ma, X. (2021). Living arrangements and subjective well-being of the elderly in China and Japan. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(3), 903-948.
Netuveli, G., Wiggins, R. D., Hildon, Z., Montgomery, S. M. and Blane, D. (2006). Quality of life at older ages: Evidence from the English longitudinal study of aging (Wave 1). Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60(4), 357–363.
Pinquart, M. and Sorenson, S. (2001). Gender differences in self-concept and psychological well-being in old age: A meta-analysis. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological sciences and social sciences, 56(4), P195–P213.
Ploubidis, G. B. and Grundy, E. (2009). Later-life mental health in Europe: A country level comparison. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 64B(5), 666–676.
Rendall, M. S. and Speare, A. (1995). Elderly poverty alleviation through living with family. Journal of Population Economics, 8(4), 383–405.
Ruggles, S. (2009). Reconsidering the Northwest European family system : Living arrangements of the aged in comparative historical perspective. Population and Development Review, 35(2), 249–273.
Shah, S. A., Safian, N., Ahmad, S., Wan Ibadullah, W. A. H., Mohammad, Z. B., Nurumal, S. R., et al. (2021). Factors associated with happiness among Malaysian elderly. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3831.
Silverstein, M., Gans, D. and Yang, F. M. (2006). Intergenerational support to aging parents: The role of norms and needs. Journal of Family Issues, 27(8), 1068–1084.
Sukontamarn, P., Asadullah, M. N., Photphisutthiphong, N. and Nguyen Y. (2023). Happiness in old age: The daughter connection. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24, 1729-1757.
Teerawichitchainan, B., Pothisiri, W. and Long, G. T. (2015). How do living arrangements and intergenerational support matter for psychological health of elderly parents? Evidence from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. Social Science & Medicine, 136, 106–116.
Tomassini, C., Cisotto, E. and Cavrini, G. (2021). You are my favourite! Parent–child relationships and satisfaction in later life in Italy. Ageing & Society, 41(11), 2467-2483.
World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. Madrid: World Health Organization.
Yamada, K. and Teerawichitchainan, B. (2015). Living arrangements and Psychological well-being of the older adults after the economic transition in Vietnam. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 70(6), 957-968.
Yu, C. Y., Hou S. I. and Miller J. (2018). Health for older adults: The role of social capital and leisure-time physical activity by living arrangements. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(2), 150-158.
Yuan, Z., Zheng, X. and Hui, E. (2021). Happiness under one roof? The intergenerational co-residence and subjective well-being of elders in China. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(2), 727-765.
Zhu, S., Li, M., Zhong, R. and Coyte, P. C. (2019). The effects of co-residence on the subjective well-being of older Chinese parents. Sustainability, 11(7), 2090.
