Intergenerational support to and from older singaporeans

The family has historically been the provider of support for older adults in Singapore. Demographic changes over the past 50 years, in particular increases in longevity, smaller family sizes, and increases in non-marriage and divorce may be associated with changes in how older adults and children support each other. The primary aim of this chapter is to assess the relationship of gender and marital status with receipt from, and provision to, older Singaporeans of four complementary types of intergenerational support: monetary, material, time, and emotional. The effect of being female and single is of particular interest. This subgroup is typically hypothesized to be mainly recipients of support. The 2011 Panel on Health and Aging of Elderly Singaporeans (PHASE) is used to test this hypothesis. Findings show that women are not only recipients of support but are also more likely to provide monetary, time, and emotional support compared with men. The effect of being “single” on intergenerational flows differs by whether the older person is widowed, divorced/separated, or never married. Widowed elderly are mainly recipients of monetary support. Never-married elderly are the least likely to receive and provide monetary support. Gender and marital status affect intergenerational support in later life.

Duke Scholars

Author Truls Ostbye Family Medicine and Community Health