Living with adult children can give older people emotional and practical support, but it can also bring conflict between generations. Research has so far given mixed answers on whether it makes them more satisfied with life.
A new study, published in The Open Psychology Journal, suggests the answer may depend on how active older people remain in their daily lives. The research was led by Dr Mutia Aulia Dewi of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Indonesia, working with Sri Redatin Retno Pudjiati.
The researchers surveyed 331 adults aged 60 and over, with an average age of about 67. All were Indonesian citizens with at least one adult child, recruited through convenience sampling, and 71% lived with at least one child aged 21 or older.
The key factor they examined was productive engagement. In this study, it meant taking part in paid work, volunteering, and grandparenting. Most participants (79.46%) took part in one to three such activities, and volunteering was the most common, reported by 63.44%.
After taking account of the social and demographic backgrounds of both the older adults and their children, the researchers found a significant interaction. The link between living with adult children and life satisfaction changed depending on how productively engaged the older person was.
Living with adult children was not directly linked to life satisfaction on its own.
Among older adults with higher levels of productive engagement, living with their children was more positively linked to life satisfaction. For those who were less engaged, the benefit of sharing a home was weaker.
The authors link this to the idea of role enhancement. This holds that taking on several productive roles brings social and psychological benefits, such as social connection, a sense of purpose, and lower stress.
The findings are especially relevant in Indonesia. The authors cite national statistics suggesting that about 70% of older adults there live in households with more than one generation.
The study has limits. It was cross-sectional, the sample leaned towards younger older adults, and living arrangements were recorded only as a simple yes or no. Because it took place in a collectivist culture, the findings may not apply everywhere, and the authors say future research should look at other factors, such as relationship quality and health.
Even so, the practical message is clear. Supporting older adults to take part in activities that match their capacities may help promote well-being in later life, whether they live alone or with family.
The authors describe productive engagement as a protective factor. They add that programmes and policies promoting engagement in meaningful activities may help enhance older adults’ life satisfaction and support successful ageing.
