Ageing without Children

This research is about lived experience of aging individuals without children. Specifically, it will investigate how aging individuals plan and prepare for childless aging and how they construct meanings of later-life childlessness. Childlessness is a growing phenomenon in many countries, especially in China. China is experiencing unprecedented population aging and will have over 79 million childless older adults by 2050. Childlessness has significant implications for society and individuals. It may raise concerns over health and care expenditures in society. It is also associated with health disparities, as accumulated disadvantages can affect the health and well-being of childless older adults. Planning for childlessness could be a new way of thinking about longevity and framing the path of life in a different way that enables childless adults to thrive in and contribute to society. Longer-term planning may enable society to optimize living environments for childless (older) adults. Research on this topic is relevant to social scientists and policymakers in societies experiencing rising childlessness. The new knowledge from this research can be significant. Firstly, this research will help bring childless adults who are marginalized in many societies and their concerns to the foreground. Giving a voice to them will improve public understanding of the lives of this social group. Secondly, the knowledge will be translated into evidence-based policy options for creating an enabling environment where current and future generations of childless adults can thrive and contribute to society, thus fostering health and social systems transformation towards healthy ageing. Thirdly, the Sino-Nordic knowledge sharing on this topic is vital, as the Nordic social welfare system for childless older adults is an inspiration for China and the role of families in negotiating for further support is key to understanding trends in elderly care in the Nordic countries.