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Childlessness and Social Support in Old Age

Publication at Faculty of Science |
2017

Abstract

The trend of having less children has been visible in developed countries already for decades. Not only are women having less children, the proportion of childless individuals at the end of their reproductive cycle is increasing.

One of the fundamental arguments for having a child is to not remain lonely in old age. A child is supposed to work as a social net - helping the household or simply as source of the happiness.

These expectations are raising questions about social contacts of childless elderly people. The paper is trying to clarify whether childless people have less frequent social interactions than people with children and whether contact with their children are a significant part of their social interactions.

Also, if the frequency of interactions and overall happiness differ in relation to gender or whether those variables differ with the level of education.