Family Size and Old-age Wellbeing: Effects of the Fertility Transition in Mexico

Overview

Journal Ageing Soc

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2017 Feb 28

PMID 28239210

Citations 9

Authors

Carlos Diaz-Venegas

Joseph L Saenz

Rebeca Wong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present study aims to determine how family size affects psycho-social, economic and health wellbeing in old age differently across two cohorts with declining fertility. The data are from the 2012 Mexican Health and Ageing Study (MHAS) including respondents aged 50+ (N = 13,102). Poisson (standard and zero-inflated) and logistic regressions are used to model determinants of wellbeing in old age: psycho-social (depressive symptoms), economic (consumer durables and insurance) and health (chronic conditions). In the younger cohort, having fewer children is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and chronic conditions, and better economic well-being. For the older cohort, having fewer children is associated with lower economic wellbeing and higher odds of being uninsured. Lower fertility benefited the younger cohort (born after 1937), whereas the older cohort (born in 1937 or earlier) benefited from lower fertility only in chronic conditions. Further research is needed to continue exploring the old-age effects of the fertility transition.

Citing Articles

Does a Reduction in Receiving Assistance With Daily Activities Among Older Adults in Mexico Indicate An Increase in Unmet Needs or a Decrease in Needs for Care?.

Downer B, Samper-Ternent R, Cantu P, Miller M, Wong R J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2023; 79(4).

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Less Is (Often) More: Number of Children and Health Among Older Adults in 24 Countries.

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The Effect of Child Quantity and Education on Parents' Well-Being in Vietnam.

Vu L, Phung T Front Public Health. 2021; 9:706279.

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Family help received by Mexican older adults across socioeconomic strata: changes over a critical decade.

Orozco-Rocha K, Gonzalez-Gonzalez C, Wong R Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2021; 45:e90.

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