A survey conducted in Singapore has found that about 80 per cent of childless individuals aged 50 and above say their well-being levels are comparable to their peers with children, thanks to support from family, friends and the community. However, those reporting lower well-being have limited social and support networks.
A social network is the web of relationships an individual maintains with parents, siblings, spouses, children, relatives, friends, neighbours and others. These networks provide social, emotional, and practical support, and play a crucial role in the well-being of many middle-aged and older adults.
Existing research suggests that childless older individuals tend to be at higher risk of social isolation, poorer health, and even premature death, due to their smaller social networks compared to those with children. But little is known about the diversity of networks among childless middle-aged and older adults in Singapore, a society where children are often seen as key providers of later-life support, and how their networks may affect well-being.
To address this gap, Associate Professor Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan from NUS Sociology and the Centre for Family and Population Research led a study examining the support networks of childless individuals in Singapore. The team conducted a nationwide survey of 1,500 individuals aged 50 and above, both with and without children, of which 500 were childless respondents. Well-being was measured through loneliness, depression, happiness, and life satisfaction scores.
Among the 500 childless individuals, 59 per cent were female. About 79 per cent were unpartnered (i.e., never married, widowed, divorced) while 21 per cent were married. 58 per cent of the childless individuals were working at the time of the survey, while the remaining 42 per cent were unemployed.
Five types of social networks
Researchers identified five types of social networks among childless individuals in Singapore, each reflecting different sources of support and social engagement.
Among all the childless respondents, those with siblings/extended family network make up the largest group, and the smallest group being the diverse, parental absence network.
More support, better well-being
When comparing the childless group with non-childless individuals, researchers found that childless individuals in diverse networks report similar well-being outcomes (e.g., less loneliness, less depression, and more happiness) than non-childless individuals. This finding challenges stereotypes that childlessness in later life often leads to isolation and shows that many childless people build fulfilling and varied support systems outside traditional parent-adult child relationships.
The study also showed that about 20 per cent of childless individuals in Singapore experience restricted networks with limited social interaction and support. The latter were more likely to feel lonely and depressed and less likely to be happy or satisfied with life compared to those in more supportive networks.
Interestingly, childless individuals in the ‘diverse, parental absence’ network, reported higher levels of happiness than those with children. “This could be because they have fulfilling social relationships and actively engage in their communities. Additionally, since their parents are likely to have passed on, they may be free from the stress of caregiving responsibilities,” explained Assoc Prof Teerawichitchainan.
Family over friends
While the diverse networks examined in the study involved non-family members such as friends, the study did not specifically identify any network types that were friend-oriented among childless Singaporeans aged 50 and older, in contrast to comparable studies on Western populations that often identified a friend-focused network.
This preference for family interactions reflects Singapore's cultural norm of filial obligations, where family-centered social connections are prioritised over non-family relationships. The focus on family support is also evident in Singapore's housing policy, which includes subsidies for families who choose to live near their parents, reinforcing the importance of care for ageing parents.
The study also examined how sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education and income can influence a person’s social network. For instance, higher education and income were associated with diverse networks, while lower education and income were linked to sibling-focused and restricted networks. Women were also significantly more likely to have diverse networks (parental absence), while men were more likely to have parent-centered networks.
What can we learn from this
Collectively, the findings suggest that having a diverse network, involving both family and non-family members, is linked to better well-being, with lower levels of loneliness and depression, and higher happiness. Having access to strong social connections with kin and non-kin can help childless individuals achieve comparable later-life well-being outcomes as their peers with children.
The study highlights the importance of understanding the various network types among the childless when assessing their well-being and suggests that future policies should support not just family connections but also help build broader social networks.
Given the globally increasing prevalence of individuals reaching advanced age without children, mitigating the childless’ pathways to restricted social networks will be an important policy agenda for promoting later-life well-being.
References
Teerawichitchainan, B., Kim, D., & Ho, C. (2024). Childlessness, Social Network Profiles in Midlife and Late Adulthood, and Their Implications for Subjective Well-Being. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 79(6), gbae055.
