Children-related factors associated with life satisfaction of urban older adults living alone in China.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the number of children, their gender structure, and the gender of children by birth order with the life satisfaction of urban older adults living alone (UOALA) in five Chinese cities. Traditional reproductive views suggest that having more children, especially sons, is associated with higher life satisfaction for older adults. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design and included a sample of 2,801 UOALA from five Chinese cities. The life satisfaction of participants was measured using standardized questionnaires. To analyze the data, both OLS and OLogit methods were employed. Results: Empirical research shows that the number of children has a positive association with life satisfaction of UOALA, which is greater in male older adults than in female ones. The increase in the number of daughters is significantly associated with higher life satisfaction. In terms of gender structure, UOALA with multiple children, including both sons and daughters, tend to have a higher level of life satisfaction, which partly validates the cohort reproductive preference. In terms of gender of children by birth order, UOALA whose first child is a daughter have higher life satisfaction, which is more pronounced among male UOALA, while the association of gender of children by birth order on female UOALA is relatively weak. Discussion: This study contributes to the understanding of the factors associated with the life satisfaction of UOALA in China. The findings suggest that having more children, particularly daughters, and a balanced gender structure of children is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. The study suggests the need for targeted social support for UOALA with varying family structures.

Perceived family relationships and social participation through sports of urban older adults living alone: An analysis of the mediating effect of self-respect levels.

Introduction: The perception of good family relationship is an important factor to promote social participation through sports of older adults living alone. This study explores the influence of perceived family relationship on sports sociability and its group differences, and then discusses the mediating effect of self-respect. Methods: Based on the survey data of 2,801 older adults living alone in Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hohhot, and Dalian, the quantitative index of their "activeness in social participation through sports" was constructed. The OLS model, the Ologit model, the instrumental variable method and the mediating effect were used to explore the influence mechanism of perceived family relationships of urban older adults living alone on their sport participation. Results: The results demonstrate that: (1) Older adults 's activeness in sport participation in China is generally at a low level; (2) perceived family relationships have an impact on activeness in sport participation, i.e. positive family relationships will increase their activeness in sport participation, and there are evident gender differences in this tendency; (3) there are regional differences in the activeness in SPS among the older adults living alone in urban areas, and perceived family relationships in first-tier and second-tier cities have a more significant impact on their activeness in sport participation; (4) the mediating effect analysis shows that perceived family relationships can indirectly promote urban old adults' activeness in sport participation through the reconstruction of their self-respect, and this is more pronounced in women. Discussion: Therefore, the important role of families cannot be ignored in promoting sport participation of the older adults.