Receiving social support from diverse helpers: associations with quality of life

• Main Authors: Ang, Shannon, Suen, Johan
• Other Authors: School of Social Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Sociology; Social Support; Living Arrangements
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/170346
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

More older adults now live in non-family-based households, even as the provision of support to older adults within the domestic setting becomes more salient. This study examines the determinants of having non-immediate family or non-coresident helpers in older adults' received social support networks, and its associations with quality of life. Data were from a nationally representative study of Singaporeans aged 60 and above (N = 2248) who did not live alone. Findings show that those who received help solely from persons other than their spouse or child report a lower quality of life compared to other kinds of networks. However, those who had more non-coresident helpers than co-resident helpers experienced a higher quality of life compared to those who relied mainly on co-resident helpers. We suggest that policymakers should consider supporting a wider range of informal social support arrangements and providers, as networks of received social support become increasingly diverse.