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Family Structure and Its Changes and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life: How Intergenerational Support Makes a
Yaocheng Luo1,2,3,4, Youtao Mou1,2,3,4, Zhenzhen Peng1,2,3,4
1School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Older adults in skipped-generation households face a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Transitions into these households also increase depression risk, highlighting a need for targeted public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Depressive symptoms are a significant concern for middle-aged and older adults.
- Family structure and its changes can impact the mental well-being of older individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between family structures and transitions and the development of depressive symptoms in older adults.
- To explore the mediating role of intergenerational support in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) waves 1-5 were analyzed.
- Cox proportional hazards models assessed the risk of incident depressive symptoms based on family structure and transitions.
- Parallel mediation analysis examined the role of emotional and instrumental support.
Main Results:
- Living in skipped-generation households was linked to a 30% increased risk of depressive symptoms compared to two-generation households.
- Transitioning from two-generation to skipped-generation households elevated the risk by 54%.
- Emotional support partially mediated the association between skipped-generation households and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Skipped-generation households and transitions into them are associated with elevated risks of depressive symptoms in older adults.
- Public health strategies should focus on supporting skipped-generation households and mitigating risks associated with their formation.
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