Work

Examining Longitudinal Relationships between Social Support and Strain in Relationships with Children and Older Adults’ Cognitive Functioning

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Relationships with children are often highly salient to older adults and can be characterized by both social support and strain. Although research suggests that social support and strain are linked to older adults' cognitive functioning, few studies have considered reciprocal effects or examined potential explanatory mechanisms. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 7,639) to examine longitudinal, bidirectional relationships between social support and strain in relationships with children and cognitive functioning among older U.S. adults. Results from dynamic panel models suggest that higher social support from children predicts modestly better later cognitive functioning and that strain from children is negatively linked to subsequent cognition. Older adults with higher cognitive functioning report less later strain in relationships with children. Depressive symptoms and receipt of children's help with functional limitations play modest roles in helping to explain associations between social support and strain from children and cognitive functioning.

Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior

DOI: 10.1177/00221465251335039

Authors: Jennifer Caputo, Linda Waite, Kathleen A. Cagney

Institutions: Westat (United States), University of Chicago, University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900