The Living Arrangements of Older Adults in Thailand: Skipped Generation Households

Recent social and economic developments in Thailand have resulted in increasing migration from rural villages to urban centers. This trend has led to varying living arrangements for older people particularly skipped generation households. This presentation will include a discussion of qualitative findings from interviews with grandparents who live in skipped generation households in Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, and Phitsanulok. Topics will include: intergenerational exchanges, solidarity, conflict and conflict management as well as the worries of the grandparents living in skipped generation households. In addition, this presentation will include a discussion of findings from a quantitative analysis of survey data from Kanchanaburi in which we examine how different kinds of living arrangements are related to psychological well-being and depression for older adults.