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Singlehood, social network, and perceived old-age support: A study of middle-aged never-married adults in Hong Kong
Author(s)
Date Issued
2025
Conference
Citation
Lai, G. (26 Jun 2025). Singlehood, social network, and perceived old-age support: A study of middle-aged never-married adults in Hong Kong. Sunbelt 2025, Paris, France.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
The present paper aims to examine the perceived old-age support network among middle-aged never-married adults in Hong Kong. Family has been conceived as an important source of old-age support in both Western and Chinese societies. The increasing proportion of people remaining single throughout their lives and longevity of human life has prompted closer research attention to the social connections and old-age support of never-married individuals who do not have a family of their own. Moreover, the trend of population aging in many societies has generated great concerns for sustainable elderly care and support to be provided by the government, and subsequently, given rise to the concept of “aging in place”, which encourages older adults to utilize family and community resources, and middle-aged adults to plan early for old age. However, relatively scant research has examined middle-aged never-married adults’ perceived availability of old-age support, the relative importance of kin and non-kin ties as sources of old-age support, and the association with network relations.
To address the above issues, the present paper will employ data from a territory-wide random sample survey of 802 never-married adults aged between 40-59, which was conducted from mid-August to the end of December 2024. About 43% of the respondents have a partner and 20% live with their partner at the time of the survey. About 90% of the respondents have siblings. Respondents are asked to report on the expected sources of support in 11 areas of need when they enter old age, including day-to-day personal care, home repair, financial support, and companionship, etc. Support sources include self, partner, sibling, friend, relative, paid help, government, etc. They are also asked to indicate the extent to which they are concerned about whether these needs can be met.
About 30-60% of respondents report to rely on themselves for the 11 specified needs, particularly for financial and daily routine matters. More than 10% of the respondents do not expect to get help from anyone for all the 11 needs. Less than 10% of the respondents name siblings and friends as sources of support in old age, except that one-fourth of the respondents consider friends a source of companionship. The number of confidant ties and closeness with siblings are not associated with perceiving friends and siblings as sources of support. Relatives play a minimal role in perceived old-age support. Social capital, as measured by the number of occupations reached via social ties, is found to be associated with the tendency of self-reliance. Paid help and government support are perceived to be important sources of support in some areas, such as household chores, medical expenses, and housing. The findings will be discussed in the context of the self-reliance ideology and welfare regime in Hong Kong. Implications for social policies will also be explored.
To address the above issues, the present paper will employ data from a territory-wide random sample survey of 802 never-married adults aged between 40-59, which was conducted from mid-August to the end of December 2024. About 43% of the respondents have a partner and 20% live with their partner at the time of the survey. About 90% of the respondents have siblings. Respondents are asked to report on the expected sources of support in 11 areas of need when they enter old age, including day-to-day personal care, home repair, financial support, and companionship, etc. Support sources include self, partner, sibling, friend, relative, paid help, government, etc. They are also asked to indicate the extent to which they are concerned about whether these needs can be met.
About 30-60% of respondents report to rely on themselves for the 11 specified needs, particularly for financial and daily routine matters. More than 10% of the respondents do not expect to get help from anyone for all the 11 needs. Less than 10% of the respondents name siblings and friends as sources of support in old age, except that one-fourth of the respondents consider friends a source of companionship. The number of confidant ties and closeness with siblings are not associated with perceiving friends and siblings as sources of support. Relatives play a minimal role in perceived old-age support. Social capital, as measured by the number of occupations reached via social ties, is found to be associated with the tendency of self-reliance. Paid help and government support are perceived to be important sources of support in some areas, such as household chores, medical expenses, and housing. The findings will be discussed in the context of the self-reliance ideology and welfare regime in Hong Kong. Implications for social policies will also be explored.
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