Decline in co-residence of parents and children among older Kuwaiti men and women: what are the significant correlates?

Abstract

A trend towards decline in co-residence with children is apparent in several countries while it is absent in others. The objectives of this paper are to address the patterns of co-residence with children among older Kuwaiti men and women aged 60+ and to assess the determinants of such patterns within the context of rapid socioeconomic changes occurring in the country (n = 1588). The data for this paper were collected as part of a household survey on the psychosocial health and disability among 2487 older Kuwaitis aged 50+. Forward step-wise logistic regression was run to assess the significant socio-demographic and health related correlates of living without any co-resident children. We found that the percentage living without any co-resident children increased from 5% in 1999 to 24% in 2005/6. About 13% women and 1% men were living alone in 2005/6. In the multivariate analysis, older age, female gender, non-Bedouin cultural background, a smaller number of children, higher educational level, and the presence of one or more domestic helpers were positively associated with the absence of co-resident children. On the other hand, those who were not married were less likely to reside without co-resident children, as were those with higher family incomes. Except for self-rated health none of the health related variables, such as chronic illnesses or depressive symptom experience, emerged as significant. Modernization forces seem to be at the core of the observed decline in co-residence with children.