Marital Status, Social Networks, and Perception of Old Age: A Study of Middle-Aged Chinese Adults in Hong Kong

Family is often considered as an important source of old-age support in both Western and Chinese societies. Especially, the trend of population aging has generated great concerns for sustainable elderly care and support to be provided by the government, and subsequently, given rise to the concept of “aging in place”, which encourages older adults to utilize family and community resources, and middle-aged adults to plan early for old age. In societies that prioritize marriage and family formation, single people are often assumed to have fewer social connections and less social support from their married counterparts. Yet, empirical studies show that while single people might report fewer confidants compared to those who are married, they often compensate with broader friendship networks and higher involvement in community and civic activities. Never-married adults’ perception of old age and the association with social networks is less understood.

To address the research gap, the present paper examines the social network structure and relations between married and never-married adults, and the impact of social networks on their perceived ability to meet old-age needs. Data for analysis were collected through a territory-wide sample survey of 1304 Chinese adults aged between 40 and 59 in Hong Kong, of which 802 are nevermarried. Bivariate results show significant marital status differences in social network structure and relations, and perceived ability to meet old-age needs. The impact of social networks on perceived ability to meet old-age needs also varies by marital status.