Abstract Residential consumption is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and rapid population aging is reshaping how these emissions are generated and distributed. In aging societies, later-life carbon outcomes are influenced not only by income and consumption needs but also by intergenerational support, housing conditions, digital access, and climatic exposure. China provides an important setting because population aging, strong family support systems, and large cross-city climatic differences coexist with substantial heterogeneity in household living conditions. However, micro-level evidence remains limited regarding how carbon-footprint heterogeneity varies across adjacent later-life cohorts and across these multiple dimensions. Here we show, by linking an environmentally extended multi-regional input–output framework to data for 15,243 individuals in 104 Chinese cities, that assigned per-capita household consumption-based carbon footprints differ systematically between adults aged 45–64 years and those aged 65 years and older, and that the nonlinear associations with key socioeconomic factors also vary across cohorts: income exhibits a U-shaped association, whereas assets and intergenerational support exhibit inverted-U associations, with these relationships differing in strength between the two groups. Model-implied scenario contrasts indicate that the largest predicted differentials arise across climate-related settings, reaching 407.95 kg-CO2/cap for cold-versus-temperate conditions and 190.87 kg-CO2/cap for hot-versus-temperate conditions. In addition, a reduction in durable-goods expenditure among high-income adults aged 45–64 years is associated with a predicted decline of 112.6 kg-CO2/cap, of which vehicle outlays account for the largest share. These findings suggest that later-life carbon heterogeneity is shaped not only by affluence but also by cohort-specific consumption patterns and climate-related living environments, thereby providing a more differentiated basis for mitigation design in aging societies.

ABSTRACT Objective This study explores how geographical distance between adult children of immigrants and their parents changes in response to partnership formation and partnership dissolution. Background Geographical distance between generations is a key factor in intergenerational support. However, there is limited knowledge about how proximity changes over the life course, with most research confined to Western cultural settings. The lack of comparative work is surprising since intergenerational proximity and solidarity are often associated with an international migration background. Methods Using longitudinal register data from the Netherlands, we follow individuals born to parents from Suriname, Turkey, and the Netherlands, assessing their geographical distance from parents between ages 22 and 42. Two‐part regression models with impact function specifications are employed to estimate the effects of partnership formation and dissolution on intergenerational proximity. Results In all groups, intergenerational distance increased with partnership formation and decreased following partnership dissolution. In the case of partnership formation, the divergence effect was stronger for women than for men. Following partnership dissolution, the convergence effect was stronger for women than for men of Turkish origin, but similar for men and women of Surinamese and Dutch origin. Leaving home for partnership formation and returning home after partnership dissolution played an important role in explaining the changes in proximity, especially for individuals of Dutch origin, and for men more than for women in all groups. Conclusion Our findings confirm the effects of partnership transitions on intergenerational distance among migrant families and emphasize cultural influences on intergenerational gendered proximity and family interdependencies in migrant communities.

Resilience is often conceptualized as an individual’s ability to adapt to adversity; however, in Indigenous communities, it is deeply rooted in cultural continuity, language, and intergenerational support. This study examined resilience among Indigenous children in early childhood education settings in the United States, focusing on protective factors and the role of culturally significant classroom practices. A sequential explanatory mixed- methods design was used to analyze quantitative data from the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) and the Native Culture and Language in the Classroom Observation (NCLCO) within an Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) program serving Indigenous children. Results revealed distinct age-related patterns, with EHS children showing negative associations between DECA scores and cultural elements, while HS children exhibited positive associations. Qualitative findings from teacher and leadership focus groups provided contextual insight, highlighting how cultural expectations, emotional expression, and environmental interactions influence perceptions of resilience. While the DECA was generally regarded as a useful tool, participants identified challenges in rating culturally specific expressions of resilience, underscoring the need for culturally responsive assessment methods. Findings contribute to a growing body of research advocating for the integration of Indigenous knowledge and practices in early childhood resilience assessment to ensure developmental measures reflect the strengths and adaptive capacities of Indigenous children.

Dynamic intergenerational support and anxiety-depression in aging: Insights from latent transitions to symptom networks.

Intergenerational support, conflict, and postpartum depression trajectories among Chinese mothers: Family-based care and multilevel predictors.

ABSTRACT Emerging evidence highlights a global shift toward household migration, where migrants' settlement intentions increasingly function as a household strategy rather than an individual choice. In China and similar developing contexts, rural land serves as both a critical resource and vital family asset, profoundly shaping settlement intentions. Against this backdrop, this research employs the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) database and binary logistic regression models to re‐examine how rural land arrangements influence the settlement intentions of rural‐to‐urban migrants in China, with a focus on variations across different stages of the family life cycle. An important novel finding is the identification of systematic heterogeneity in the effects of rural land arrangements on migrants' settlement intentions before and after the stable period of the family life cycle, which is marked by the end of the child‐rearing cycle and a fundamental reconfiguration of household core priorities. Specifically, in the pre‐stable period, rural land‐use effects correlated strongly with children's urban educational trajectories, underscoring the role of intergenerational support, while in the post‐stable period, these effects diverged, reflecting a diversification of household priorities. Furthermore, the study confirms that across all stages of the family life cycle, arable land generally promotes settlement intentions, while rural housing land consistently inhibits them. These findings deepen the theoretical understanding of migrant settlement intentions in China by integrating family life cycle dynamics with rural land arrangements. They provide actionable insights for urbanization policies in developing countries facing large‐scale rural‐urban migration and institutional segmentation of urban‐rural land systems.

Starting in 2025, China is gradually increasing the statutory retirement age for male and female employees. However, little is known about how parental retirement delay affects the fertility intentions of adult children. This study investigates this issue using a 2 × 4 factorial survey experimental design ( N = 773) and a difference-in-differences method to identify causal relationships. It further examines the mediating roles of grandparental economic support and childcare. The results show that the Delayed Retirement Policy significantly reduces both grandparental childcare and the fertility intentions of their adult children. The mediating pathway through reduced grandparental care is supported, whereas grandparental economic support plays no significant role. The magnitude of these effects varies by the duration of parental retirement delay, the gender of the parent affected, and whether both parents are impacted. Policy recommendations include promoting flexible retirement age options, expanding parental leave, and increasing the provision of childcare services to supplement intergenerational support.

Oral health is essential to overall health and significantly impacts active aging in older adults. However, the underlying mechanisms linking oral health to active aging are not yet clear, especially among rural older adults, where this relationship warrants further exploration. This study focuses on older adults in rural China, examining whether intergenerational support and social isolation mediate the relationship between oral health and active aging. Between July and August 2024, a total of 1276 older adults were recruited from rural areas of Anhui Province, China, using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), the Intergenerational Support Scale (ISS), the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), and the Active Aging Scale (AAS). A chain mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS PROCESS 4.1 (Model 6). The generalizability of the model was further examined across different age groups. The mediation analysis indicated that oral health not only has a direct positive effect on active aging (effect = 0.291, 95% CI: LL = 0.175, UL = 0.406), but also indirectly influences the level of active aging through three significant mediating pathways: the independent mediating effect of intergenerational support (effect = 0.066, 95% CI: LL = 0.042, UL = 0.096), the independent mediating effect of social isolation (effect = 0.049, 95% CI: LL = 0.005, UL = 0.093), and the chain mediating effect between intergenerational support and social isolation (effect = 0.023, 95% CI: LL = 0.013, UL = 0.034). Age subgroup analyses revealed that this chain mediation model was most robust in the 70–79 age group. Oral health directly or indirectly affects active aging through intergenerational support and social isolation. However, the strength of these pathways varies across age groups, suggesting that improving oral health issues and enhancing intergenerational support and social networks can synergistically elevate the level of active aging among rural older adults, with particular emphasis on the 70–79 age cohort. Not applicable.

ABSTRACT This article examines the psychosocial challenges of later life through the lens of poetry, highlighting maladaptive regret, the pursuit of unattainable closure, and diminished self-empathy. Drawing on gerontological research, it explores how older adults face cumulative adversities—bereavement, functional decline, estrangement, unrealized aspirations, and moral injury—often without sufficient structural or clinical support. The poem’s refrain “Nevertheless” underscores persistent human striving despite epistemic limits, emotional incompleteness, and empathic constraints, emphasizing the importance of ongoing meaning-making rather than expecting ideals such as clear closure. The poem also serves as a call to action: practitioners should normalize ambiguity and unfinished narratives, expand interventions targeting maladaptive outcomes, and foster age-enabling, if not age-elevating, environments that cultivate resilience, empathy, and intergenerational support. After all, while we struggle in prose, we can, nevertheless, strive in poetry.

ABSTRACT Mental health disorders in the older population have emerged as growing health concerns along with ongoing population aging worldwide. While support provided by various agencies may play a role in combating mental health disorders such as depression, exploring the mediating role of social participation in the pathways linking different forms of support to depression could offer deeper insights. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study conducted structural equation modeling to investigate the impact of social security and intergenerational support on depression in older adults, as well as the mediating role of social participation. Heterogeneity by gender, education levels, and urban–rural locality were also explored. The results showed that: (1) Social security and intergenerational support were associated with lower levels of depression in older adults; (2) Social participation mediated the effect of social security and intergenerational support on older adults’ depression; and (3) The effects of social security on depression were more pronounced among urban and better-educated older adults, while the effects of intergenerational support on depression were more evident among rural and less-educated older adults. Improving social security for the less advantaged could be a priority to tackle depression in older age.

BackgroundProsocial behaviors are important public health strategies for decreasing older people’s social isolation and improving their social engagement and well-being. However, few studies have explored older Chinese people’s helping behaviors. Therefore, this qualitative study was designed to explore the experiences of helping behaviors among community-dwelling older adults using self-construal theory, focusing on their motivations, willingness, and gains.MethodsA descriptive qualitative study was conducted from July to September 2024 in Southwest China using semistructured, in-depth, in-person interviews. Participants were selected through purposive sampling method, and categories and subcategories were identified through content analysis method.ResultsA total of twenty community-dwelling older adults participated in this study. Six categories and thirteen subcategories were extracted from the data analysis. The categories included (i) the individual self (intrinsic motivation and self-interested motivation); (ii) the relational self (driven by genetic factors and help people close to them); (iii) the collective self (responsibility and obligation and prioritizing collective interests); (iv) the beyond self (pure altruism and helping strangers discreetly); (v) perceived gains (intergenerational support, peer support, and positive emotions); and (vi) barriers to and facilitators of helping behaviors.ConclusionThe results emphasized that the intrinsic motivations for helping behaviors among older people were mainly benevolence and empathy. However, the motivations and willingness to engage in helping behaviors differed and were complex for different recipients. Perceived intergenerational support, peer support, and positive emotions could be protective factors for them in maintaining long-term helping behavior. Therefore, increasing helping behaviors in daily life should be considered an effective public health measure for older people to obtain family and social support and promote their mental health.

This article analyses the unique challenges and issues Asian parties experience under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) in New Zealand. Drawing on demographic data, case law, and interviews with expert and experienced practitioners in property relationship issues, the article highlights how cultural practices, language barriers, and differing understandings of legal norms complicate relationship property disputes in court. Issues include the treatment of family transfers—whether a transfer is a gift or a loan, interpretation and translation of evidence, discovery and disclosure, limited documentation and lack of expert cultural and language evidence. The analysis emphasizes the need for cultural competence within the Family Court, when cultural issues may be relevant to adjudicative issues, and recommends changes to ensure equal access to justice as the PRA enters its 50th year. Keywords: Property (Relationships) Act; Asian parties; filial piety; cultural competence; family transfers; loans; gifts; language barriers; access to justice; superdiversity; contracting-out and compromise agreements; interpretation and translation; intergenerational support.

Intergenerational households and labor migration are common characteristics of many rural Chinese communities. Intergenerational caregivers offer various forms of autonomy support to nurture children's development, especially when parents migrate to industrialized areas for work. To understand such support, primary caregivers, including 21 parents and 24 grandparents from families with various migration trends, were recruited from a southwest rural village with a high migration flow. All caregivers participated in interviews about their developmental ideals for children and how they help children meet these expectations. All caregivers defined the developmental ideals as Zili (self-reliance), Qinkuai (diligence) when completing chores, Zijue (self-awareness) in learning, and social and reflective skills while putting self-directed effort into learning. Emphasis on educational attainment for future independence, expanding intellectual horizons, and imparting moral knowledge supported children's psychological autonomy. Welcoming children's personal preferences and granting children the necessary space to manage their time-ideals apparent in industrialized societies-were also evident. Action autonomy support included using chores to train action, expecting behavioral self-reliance, and forming relevant habits as early in the life cycle as practical. When comparing two generations, most grandparents emphasized children's effort in learning, whereas parents stressed children's prosocial behaviors, sibling roles, and commitment to expanding intellectual horizons. All caregivers from families experiencing long-term parental migration put more emphasis on children's academic self-awareness and effort, fulfilling children's preferences, and teaching moral judgment compared to short-term and nonmigrant families. Childrearing goals reflected adaptive responses to children's expression of autonomy and intergenerational support regardless of migration status. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Background: the digitalization of healthcare accelerated by COVID-19 has intensified inequalities among older adults with low digital and health literacy. Methods: following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (2020-2024) identified 64 studies meeting PICO-based criteria. Results: limited digital skills, inadequate infrastructure and low health literacy hindered access to telemedicine and reliable information, especially in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged settings. Interventions such as digital literacy training and intergenerational support showed benefits but limited scalability. Conclusion: the digital divide acts as a structural determinant of health inequality. Integrated strategies combining digital education, infrastructure development and inclusive policies are needed to support equitable digital health access for older adults.

Shifting the safety net: Does social health insurance reshape intergenerational support?

Smartphone use among older adults has become increasingly important, shaping social inclusion and daily life. This study examined public discussions on X (formerly Twitter) regarding smartphone use in older adults, comparing Persian-speaking and English-language communities. Tweets in English and Persian were collected from June 1 to June 30, 2024, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Six themes emerged in the English-language dataset, including digital exclusion, learning and adaptation, usability challenges, preference for simplicity, vulnerability to digital risks, and intergenerational support. Persian tweets revealed five main themes, overlapping with those identified in the English-language data, but highlighting stronger emotional and cultural dimensions, such as sentimental value in digital interactions. Overall, discussions reflected experiences ranging from empowerment to exclusion, underscoring the importance of inclusive technology design, culturally sensitive digital literacy programs, and policies addressing accessibility barriers for older users.

ABSTRACT The digital divide remains a significant barrier to social participation and well-being among older people. This study investigates the impact of family and intergenerational support on the digital divide (internet use and digital skills) in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe Wave 8 data (N = 6,374), we employ generalized linear models and multinomial logistic regression to analyze internet use and skills patterns among older people. Results indicate that the presence of children significantly increases internet access and skill levels. Intergenerational contact frequency, which we operationalize as a dimension of support, is most effective at moderate levels. Older people who experience greater geographical distance from (lower proximity to) their children are more likely to use the internet and develop higher digital skills. These findings highlight the importance of family-based support strategies in addressing the digital divide among older people.

The consumption of teas and herbal infusions by newborns and infants younger than six months remains a widespread cultural practice in Brazil, despite national and international recommendations advocating exclusive breastfeeding during this period. This study presents an integrative literature review published between 2014 and 2023, aiming to synthesize scientific evidence regarding the prevalence, determinants, and health risks associated with tea consumption in early infancy. Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and Scopus, following the methodological framework proposed by Whittemore and Knafl. Findings indicate a high prevalence of early introduction of teas, particularly in the North and Northeast regions, often motivated by traditional beliefs passed down through family figures such as grandmothers and traditional birth attendants. Key determinants include low maternal education, inadequate prenatal and postnatal care, and strong influence from intergenerational support networks. Documented risks encompass impaired iron absorption, microbiological contamination, allergic reactions, exposure to plant toxins, and negative effects on exclusive breastfeeding, ultimately contributing to early weaning. The critical appraisal of the studies reveals methodological limitations, including scarcity of longitudinal designs and heterogeneity in defining “tea consumption.” The persistence of this practice highlights the complex interaction between cultural norms and scientific recommendations. The findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive health-education strategies that acknowledge traditional knowledge while promoting evidence-based practices to safeguard infant health.

Abstract Alaska Native (AN) communities in remote Alaska experience disproportionately high rates of youth suicide, and have an abundance of social resources, which are often more plentiful and preferred than clinical care. This cross-sectional study of AN community members (ages 15 to 93) describes actions that AN people report doing to reduce suicide risk and promote mental wellness, and uses logistic regressions to assess differences in number and types of actions by age and gender. Results suggest that overall, community members engage in a variety of preventative actions (mean 6.28 out of 11 in the past few months). Notably, there were minor differences in actions related to suicide prevention (e.g., lethal means restriction), health promotion (e.g., sharing with others about wellness), and postvention (i.e., actions to reduce risk following a suicide) based on gender or age. Younger AN people (ages 15 to 29) reported more suicide prevention actions with friends, whereas older people reported doing more with family. Women of all ages reported engaging in more suicide prevention actions than men, particularly offering interpersonal supports. This study highlights the preventative actions already happening in AN social support networks, underscoring the untapped potential of engaging with families and community members to strengthen intergenerational support networks for suicide prevention.

Digital technologies offer the potential to promote mental health by improving older adults' digital and mental health literacy. Intergenerational support is a promising medium to promote the mental health of older adults. Nonetheless, the effects of interventions employing digital and mental health literacy training through intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of the Digital Buddy programme on the mental health of older adults. This study used a multi-centre, cluster-randomised, two-parallel-group (1:1 allocation ratio), controlled trial design. People aged ≥60 years without diagnosed mental illnesses were eligible. In the intervention group, participants attended 14 training sessions conducted by young volunteers over 2 months, using materials on a website and a smartphone app. The content included digital skills and mental health knowledge. Volunteers continued tele-coaching participants for 6 months. The control group received usual care. Outcomes measured at baseline (T0) and 1-week post-intervention (T1) included mental well-being, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and perceived social support. Generalised estimating equations tested the hypotheses. A total of 310 participants from 15 clusters entered the study, with each group containing 155 participants. The WHO-5 (mean difference = 7.0, d = 0.32, p < .001) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores (mean difference = 0.9, d = 0.24, p = .02) of the intervention group improved after the intervention with statistical significance, but not in the control group. Likewise, the interaction effects of group and time on the two outcomes were not statistically significant. There was a main effect of time in the intervention group over the outcomes of mental well-being and depressive symptoms. However, the interaction was non-significant and therefore the change over time did not differ between groups and therefore groups had similar change trajectories. However, future studies should devise measures to enhance its effects. This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05553730) on 23 September 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05553730.