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Living Arrangements and Subjective Well-being of the Elderly in China and Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Tsukasa Matsuura

    (Chuo University)

  • Xinxin Ma

    (Hosei University)

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of living alone on the elderly’s subjective well-being (SWB), using longitudinal survey data from China and Japan. The main findings are as follows. First, the influence of living alone on SWB is not statistically significant for elderly Chinese women, while elderly Japanese women who live alone are likely to feel significantly happier. Second, living alone does not affect SWB of elderly Chinese men, while it significantly negatively affects the SWB of elderly Japanese men. In addition, for elderly Japanese men, the negative effect of living alone disappears when marital status is controlled for in a fixed effects ordered logit model. Third, the random effects ordered logit model shows that the negative associations between living alone and SWB are stronger for elderly men than for elderly women both in China and Japan. This suggests that the effect of living alone differs by gender among the elderly in both countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsukasa Matsuura & Xinxin Ma, 2022. "Living Arrangements and Subjective Well-being of the Elderly in China and Japan," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 903-948, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00430-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00430-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Hansen, 2012. "Parenthood and Happiness: a Review of Folk Theories Versus Empirical Evidence," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(1), pages 29-64, August.
    2. James Raymo, 2015. "Living alone in Japan: Relationships with happiness and health," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(46), pages 1267-1298.
    3. Xinxin Ma & Xiangdan Piao, 2019. "The Impact of Intra-household Bargaining Power on Happiness of Married Women: Evidence from Japan," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 1775-1806, August.
    4. Joseph Winchester Brown & Jersey Liang & Neal Krause & Hiroko Akiyama & Hidehiro Sugisawa & Taro Fukaya, 2002. "Transitions in Living Arrangements Among Elders in Japan," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(4), pages 209-220.
    5. Xiangdan Piao & Xinxin Ma & Chi Zhang & Shunsuke Managi, 2020. "Impact of Gaps in the Educational Levels between Married Partners on Health and a Sustainable Lifestyle: Evidence from 32 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Ken Yamada & Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan, 2015. "Living Arrangements and Psychological Well-Being of the Older Adults After the Economic Transition in Vietnam," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(6), pages 957-968.
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