Kinship Structures for Left Behind Older Adults in High Outmigration Contexts
Author Information
Author(s): Matos-Moreno Amilcar, Alburez-Gutierrez Diego, Williams Ivan, Verdery Ashton, Fernandez Mariana, Santos-Lozada Alexis
Primary Institution: The Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
This study aims to estimate the kinship structures of older adults, kinlessness, and the presence of migrant kin in Puerto Rico.
Conclusion
The study suggests that future generations of Puerto Rican older adults will have an increased presence of transnational family members.
Supporting Evidence
- Migration accelerates population aging in high-outmigration contexts.
- Left behind older adults are at higher risk of reduced support networks and increased caregiving burden.
- A person born in 1950 will have, on average, 5.22 close family members in 2021.
- Migration is predominant in descendent kins, particularly daughters and nieces.
- Older adults between 60 and 65 have lost 44% of their daughters to migration.
Takeaway
When people move away, older adults left behind may have fewer family members to support them, and this study looks at how many family members they have.
Methodology
Data was analyzed from the United Nations World Population Prospects from 1950 to 2021 using a two-sex time-variant model and a multistate model.
Participant Demographics
Older adults in Puerto Rico.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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