{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T23:47:48Z","timestamp":1790207268119,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"5-6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,1]],"date-time":"2020-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1583020800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Res Aging"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>While we know that living alone is often associated with greater risk of financial hardship, we have limited knowledge on the possible link between the availability of public support and independent living. We use data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study and the 2011\u20132015 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe to compare income and wealth profiles of the population aged 60 and above who are living alone in the United States and 19 European countries. We find that the likelihood of living alone is higher in generous welfare states, with social support and spending both positively associated with living alone. The relationship between personal resources and living alone has a smaller positive gradient in countries with robust welfare systems. The lack of adequate public support in less generous welfare states may constrain the ability of many low-income older adults without a partner to continue living independently.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0164027520907332","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,1]],"date-time":"2020-03-01T22:01:00Z","timestamp":1583100060000},"page":"150-162","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":42,"title":["Living Alone in the United States and Europe: The Impact of Public Support on the Independence of Older Adults"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"42","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2284-0310","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stipica","family":"Mudrazija","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Urban Institute, Washington, DC, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jacqueline L.","family":"Angel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ivan","family":"Cipin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sime","family":"Smolic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Albertini M., Kohli M. (2013). The generational contract in the family: An analysis of transfer regimes in Europe. European Sociological Review, 29(4), 828\u2013840. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/esr\/jcs061","DOI":"10.1093\/esr\/jcs061"},{"key":"bibr2-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315173757"},{"key":"bibr4-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"B\u00f6rsch-Supan A., Brandt M., Hunkler C., Kneip T., Korbmacher J., Malter F., Schaan B., Stuck S., Zuber S. (2013). Data resource profile: The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). International Journal of Epidemiology, 42(4), 992\u20131001. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ije\/dyt088","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyt088"},{"key":"bibr5-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brandt M., Deindl C. (2013). Intergenerational transfers to adult children in Europe: Do social policies matter? Journal of Marriage and Family, 75(1), 235\u2013251. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1741-3737.2012.01028.x","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1741-3737.2012.01028.x"},{"key":"bibr6-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brandt M., Haberkern K., Szydlik M. (2009). Intergenerational help and care in Europe. European Sociological Review, 25(5), 585\u2013601. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/esr\/jcn076","DOI":"10.1093\/esr\/jcn076"},{"key":"bibr7-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brown S. L., Lin I. F. (2012). The gray divorce revolution: Rising divorce among middle-aged and older adults, 1990-2010. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(6), 731\u2013741. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geronb\/gbs089","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbs089"},{"key":"bibr8-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Burch T. K., Matthews B. J. (1987). Household formation in developed societies. Population and Development Review, 13(3), 495. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/1973136","DOI":"10.2307\/1973136"},{"key":"bibr9-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chou K. L., Ho A. H. Y., Chi I. (2006). Living alone and depression in Chinese older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 10(6), 583\u2013591. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13607860600641150","DOI":"10.1080\/13607860600641150"},{"key":"bibr10-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4054\/DemRes.2012.27.7"},{"key":"bibr11-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gby119"},{"key":"bibr12-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dykstra P. A. (2009). Childless old age. In Uhlenberg P. (Ed.), International handbook of population aging (pp. 671\u2013690). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-1-4020-8356-3_30","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4020-8356-3_30"},{"key":"bibr13-0164027520907332","unstructured":"European Council. Council recommendation of 27 July 1992 on the convergence of social protection objectives and policies. 92\/442\/EEC \u00a7 (1992)."},{"key":"bibr14-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gaymu J., Delb\u00e8s C., Springer S., Binet A., D\u00e9sesquelles A., Kalogirou S., Ziegler U. (2006). Determinants of the living arrangements of older people in Europe [D\u00e9terminants des modes de vie des personnes \u00e2g\u00e9es en Europe]. European Journal of Population\/Revue Europ\u00e9enne de D\u00e9mographie, 22(3), 241\u2013262. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10680-006-9004-7","DOI":"10.1007\/s10680-006-9004-7"},{"key":"bibr15-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gaymu J., Ekamper P., Beets G. (2008). Future trends in health and marital status: effects on the structure of living arrangements of older Europeans in 2030. European Journal of Ageing, 5(1), 5\u201317. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10433-008-0072-x","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-008-0072-x"},{"key":"bibr16-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0144686X10000231"},{"key":"bibr17-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grundy E. (2006). Ageing and vulnerable elderly people: European perspectives. Ageing and Society, 26(01), 105\u2013134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S0144686X05004484","DOI":"10.1017\/S0144686X05004484"},{"key":"bibr80-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Health and Retirement Study. (2014). HRS 2014 Public Use Dataset. University of Michigan. https:\/\/ssl.isr.umich.edu\/hrs\/start.php"},{"key":"bibr18-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Iacovou M. (2000). Health, wealth and progeny: Explaining the living arrangements of older European women [ISER Working Paper Series, No. 2000-08]. http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/10419\/92070"},{"key":"bibr19-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Iacovou M., Skew A. J. (2011). Household composition across the new Europe: Where do the new member States fit in? Demographic Research, 25, 465\u2013490. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4054\/DemRes.2011.25.14","DOI":"10.4054\/DemRes.2011.25.14"},{"key":"bibr20-0164027520907332","unstructured":"International Labour Organization. (2017). Employment by sector: ILO modelled estimates. http:\/\/www.ilo.org\/ilostat-files\/Documents\/Excel\/MBI_33_EN.xlsx"},{"key":"bibr21-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ivanova K., Dykstra P. (2015). Aging without children. Public Policy & Aging Report, 25(3), 98\u2013101. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ppar\/prv014","DOI":"10.1093\/ppar\/prv014"},{"key":"bibr22-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kalmijn M. (2007). Gender differences in the effects of divorce, widowhood and remarriage on intergenerational support: Does marriage protect fathers? Social Forces, 85(3), 1079\u20131104. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1353\/sof.2007.0043","DOI":"10.1353\/sof.2007.0043"},{"key":"bibr23-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Karpinska K., Dykstra P. (2015). The active ageing index and its extension to the regional level [Report prepared for the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion]. https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/social\/BlobServlet?docId=13544&langId=en"},{"key":"bibr24-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kennedy S., Bumpass L. (2008). Cohabitation and children\u2019s living arrangements: New estimates from the United States. Demographic Research, 19(47), 1663\u20131692. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4054\/DemRes.2008.19.47","DOI":"10.4054\/DemRes.2008.19.47"},{"key":"bibr25-0164027520907332","volume-title":"Going solo: The extraordinary rise and surprising appeal of living alone","author":"Klinenberg E.","year":"2012"},{"key":"bibr26-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Klinenberg E., Torres S., Portacolone E. (2013). Aging alone in America. Council on Contemporary Families. https:\/\/www.contemporaryfamilies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/2012_Briefing_Klinenberg_Aging-alone-in-america.pdf"},{"key":"bibr27-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lehmann S. W., Black B. S., Shore A., Kasper J., Rabins P. V. (2010). Living alone with dementia: lack of awareness adds to functional and cognitive vulnerabilities. International Psychogeriatrics, 22(05), 778\u2013784. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S1041610209991529","DOI":"10.1017\/S1041610209991529"},{"key":"bibr28-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leopold T., Raab M. (2011). Short-term reciprocity in late parent-child relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(1), 105\u2013119. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1741-3737.2010.00792.x","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1741-3737.2010.00792.x"},{"key":"bibr29-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Lodovici Samek M., Patrizio M., Pesce F., Roletto E. (2015). Elderly women living alone: An update of their living conditions. http:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/studies"},{"key":"bibr30-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Margolis R., Verdery A. M. (2017). Older adults without close kin in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 72(4), 688\u2013693. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geronb\/gbx068","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbx068"},{"key":"bibr31-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McGarry K., Schoeni R. F. (2000). Social security, economic growth, and the rise in elderly widows\u2019 independence in the twentieth century. Demography, 37(2), 221. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2648124","DOI":"10.2307\/2648124"},{"key":"bibr32-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Michael R. T., Fuchs V. R., Scott S. R. (1980). Changes in the propensity to live alone: 1950-1976. Demography, 17(1), 39. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2060962","DOI":"10.2307\/2060962"},{"key":"bibr33-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mudrazija S. (2014). The balance of intergenerational family transfers: A life-cycle perspective. European Journal of Ageing, 11(3), 249\u2013259. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10433-013-0302-8","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-013-0302-8"},{"key":"bibr34-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mudrazija S. (2016). Public transfers and the balance of intergenerational family support in Europe. European Societies, 18(4), 336\u2013358. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14616696.2016.1207792","DOI":"10.1080\/14616696.2016.1207792"},{"key":"bibr35-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mudrazija S., Thomeer M. B., Angel J. L. (2015). Gender differences in institutional long-term care transitions. Women\u2019s Health Issues, 25(5), 441\u2013449. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.whi.2015.04.010","DOI":"10.1016\/j.whi.2015.04.010"},{"key":"bibr36-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mutchler J. E., Burr J. A. (1991). A longitudinal analysis of household and nonhousehold living arrangements in later life. Demography, 28(3), 375. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2061463","DOI":"10.2307\/2061463"},{"key":"bibr37-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0164027503256692"},{"key":"bibr38-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ogg J. (2005). Social exclusion and insecurity among older Europeans: The influence of welfare regimes. Ageing and Society, 25(01), 69\u201390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S0144686X04002788","DOI":"10.1017\/S0144686X04002788"},{"key":"bibr39-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ong A. D., Uchino B. N., Wethington E. (2016). Loneliness and health in older adults: A mini-review and synthesis. Gerontology, 62(4), 443\u2013449. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000441651","DOI":"10.1159\/000441651"},{"key":"bibr40-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2015). Terms of reference: OECD project on the distribution of household incomes. https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/els\/soc\/IDD-ToR.pdf"},{"key":"bibr41-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2017). Social expenditure database (SOCX). http:\/\/www.oecd.org\/social\/expenditure.htm"},{"key":"bibr42-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Palloni A. (2001). Living arrangements of older persons. https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/development\/desa\/population\/events\/pdf\/expert\/1\/palloni.pdf"},{"key":"bibr43-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pezzin L. E., Kemper P., Reschovsky J. (1996). Does publicly provided home care substitute for family care? Experimental evidence with endogenous living arrangements. The Journal of Human Resources, 31(3), 650. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/146270","DOI":"10.2307\/146270"},{"key":"bibr44-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pezzin L. E., Schone B. S. (1999). Intergenerational household formation, female labor supply and informal caregiving: A bargaining approach. The Journal of Human Resources, 34(3), 475. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/146377","DOI":"10.2307\/146377"},{"key":"bibr45-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2005.03.008"},{"key":"bibr46-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/padr.12149"},{"key":"bibr47-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ruggles S. (2007). The decline of intergenerational coresidence in the United States, 1850 to 2000. American Sociological Review, 72(6), 964\u2013989. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/000312240707200606","DOI":"10.1177\/000312240707200606"},{"key":"bibr48-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Russell D., Taylor J. (2009). Living alone and depressive symptoms: The influence of gender, physical disability, and social support among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 64B(1), 95\u2013104. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geronb\/gbn002","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbn002"},{"key":"bibr49-0164027520907332","volume-title":"Abuse and health among elderly in Europe","author":"Soares J.","year":"2010"},{"key":"bibr50-0164027520907332","volume-title":"Smaller share of women ages 65 and older are living alone: More are living with spouse or children","author":"Stepler R.","year":"2016"},{"key":"bibr51-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1219686110"},{"key":"bibr81-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. (2011\u20132015). Waves 4-6. http:\/\/www.share-project.org\/data-access.html"},{"key":"bibr52-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thomeer M. B., Mudrazija S., Angel J. L. (2016). Relationship status and long-term care facility use in later life. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geronb\/gbw067","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbw067"},{"key":"bibr53-0164027520907332","first-page":"24","volume":"115","author":"Tomassini C.","year":"2004","journal-title":"Population Trends"},{"key":"bibr54-0164027520907332","unstructured":"United Nations. (2008). International standard industrial classification of all economic activities (ISIC) rev.4. https:\/\/unstats.un.org\/unsd\/cr\/registry\/isic-4.asp"},{"key":"bibr55-0164027520907332","unstructured":"United Nations. (2017). Living arrangements of older persons: A report on an expanded international dataset. Author. https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/development\/desa\/population\/publications\/pdf\/ageing\/LivingArrangements.pdf"},{"key":"bibr56-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wilmoth J. M. (2001). Living arrangements among older immigrants in the United States. The Gerontologist, 41(2), 228\u2013238. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geront\/41.2.228","DOI":"10.1093\/geront\/41.2.228"},{"key":"bibr57-0164027520907332","unstructured":"Winqvist K. (2002). Women and men beyond retirement. https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eurostat\/documents\/3433488\/5477647\/KS-NK-02-021-EN.PDF\/d74e17ba-c451-453e-ac84-2e7872181a81"},{"key":"bibr58-0164027520907332","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yeh S.C. J., Lo S. K. (2004). Living alone, social support, and feeling lonely among the elderly. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 32(2), 129\u2013138. https:\/\/doi.org\/https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2224\/sbp.2004.32.2.129","DOI":"10.2224\/sbp.2004.32.2.129"}],"container-title":["Research on Aging"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0164027520907332","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/0164027520907332","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0164027520907332","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T16:56:39Z","timestamp":1777654599000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0164027520907332"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,1]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5-6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,6]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0164027520907332"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0164027520907332","relation":{},"ISSN":["0164-0275","1552-7573"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0164-0275","type":"print"},{"value":"1552-7573","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,1]]}}}