Cohort matters: The relationships between living arrangements and psychological health from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA).

BACKGROUND:Little is known about cohort variations in the relationships between living arrangements and psychological health among older adults. The current study evaluated whether cohort differences in the intergenerational support affect the differences in the mental health benefits of multigenerational living arrangements, and how they do so. METHODS:Using panel regression models with lagged variables based on South Korean data, we compared the shape of the relationships between living arrangements and psychological conditions of two cohorts of older adults. RESULTS:The study found birth cohort differences in older adults' psychological well-being. Among older adults in recent cohorts, living in a multigenerational household was positively associated with depression and negatively linked with life satisfaction. The cohort variations were partly explained by children's marital status and home ownership. CONCLUSION:The birth cohort variations in psychological health implications of living arrangements may reflect the changing patterns of intergenerational support and family values.