Intergenerational financial support and mental health of men and women: a comparative analysis across social welfare policy contexts in Europe

As Europe faces a rapidly ageing population, understanding the interplay between family and welfare state support becomes critical for addressing mental health concerns among older adults. This study examines the association between financial transfers from descendants and depressive symptoms, exploring variations across European welfare state contexts with differing levels of pension generosity, as well as gender differences in these associations. Using data from 20 European countries participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), waves 3-9, we examined predictors of depressive symptoms as measured by the EURO-D scale. Key predictors included receiving financial transfers of EUR 250 or more from children or grandchildren, the net replacement rate of pensions for an average worker, and the interaction between these variables. Receiving financial support from children or grandchildren was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, suggesting that such transfers often occurs in response to the older adult's need. Gender differences were notable: men showed a greater increase in depressive symptoms when receiving transfers, likely reflecting the greater importance of labour force participation and pension adequacy for their mental health. Robust welfare states amplified the association between receiving transfers and depressive symptoms only for women. This may reflect situations where dual sources of support indicate severe underlying needs. These findings align with contingency exchange theories and crowding-in, emphasising that the family and the welfare state often work in tandem, rather than cancelling each other out to address significant hardships faced by the most vulnerable segments of the population.