AUTHOR=Luo Xi , Zhang Ping , Xu Fan , Wang Jing , Xie ShaoJu 

TITLE=The effect of subjective socioeconomic status on wellbeing among urban older adults with intergenerational parenting: the mediating role of perceived social support

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1672391

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1672391

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the predictive role of subjective socioeconomic status (SSES) in the wellbeing of urban older adults engaged in intergenerational parenting, and to explore the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between SSES and satisfaction with life.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenience sampling to recruit urban older residents from Deyang City who were involved in intergenerational caregiving. Data were collected through a series of standardized instruments, including a general information questionnaire, the Subjective Socioeconomic Status Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Pearson correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 to assess the relationships among SSS, life satisfaction, and perceived social support. Structural equation modeling via AMOS 26.0 was employed to analyze the mediating effect of perceived social support on the association between SSES and life satisfaction.ResultsThe urban older adults with intergenerational dependence had an average SSES score of 13.52 ± 3.72, a perceived social support score of 58.43 ± 19.15, and a satisfaction with life score of 23.96 ± 5.24. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that SSES was positively correlated with satisfaction with life, and perceived social support was also positively correlated with satisfaction with life. Mediation analysis further indicated that perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between SSES and satisfaction with life, with a mediating effect of 0.086, accounting for 17.52% of the total effect.ConclusionThe subjective socioeconomic status of urban older adults with intergenerational dependence was at a moderate-to-high level, their perceived social support was moderate, and their satisfaction with life was moderately high. SSES directly influenced satisfaction with life and also had an indirect effect through perceived social support. Families and society should provide sufficient support to the urban older adults engaged in intergenerational parenting and work to enhance their subjective socioeconomic status in order to improve their overall wellbeing.