The influence of intergenerational support on the subjective wellbeing of the older population: the moderating effects of community environment and filial expectation

TL;DR

This study explores how support from younger family members affects the wellbeing of older adults in China, and how community environment and family expectations influence this relationship.

Contribution

The study introduces the role of self-efficacy as a mediator and identifies community environment and filial expectation as key moderators in the wellbeing of older adults.

Findings

Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between intergenerational support and older adults' wellbeing.

A favorable community environment can partially compensate for insufficient family support.

Filial expectation and community factors significantly moderate the effects of intergenerational support.

Abstract

Guided by the ecological systems perspective, this study investigates how intergenerational support is associated with the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of the older population in China, emphasizing the interplay between family and community environments. Using nationally representative data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we systematically examine the effects of financial, instrumental, and emotional support on the SWB of the older population. The results indicate that self-efficacy serves as a significant mediator in this relationship, while filial expectation and community environment act as important moderating factors. Specifically, a favorable community environment can partially compensate for insufficient intergenerational support, thereby enhancing the older population wellbeing. These findings reveal the dynamic interaction between familial and community resources, extending the ecological understanding of older population wellbeing and offering empirical insights for community-based health interventions and family support policies in aging societies.

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