Child Gender Composition and Life Satisfaction in Old Age: Evidence from Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Aging

Background: Population aging is a major demographic transition. Life satisfaction is a key indicator of successful aging and may be influenced by children's gender composition. To examine the association between offspring sex composition and life satisfaction among older adults using Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Aging (NeLSA) baseline data.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 1,180 adults aged ≥50 years. Life satisfaction was assessed with the Persian Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Offspring sex composition was categorized as more sons than daughters (n=504), equal numbers (n=210), and more daughters than sons (n=466; reference). Generalized linear models were used. The adjusted model controlled for age, sex, marital status, education, income, employment, BMI, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, physical activity, family size, and social support.
Results: In the crude model, no significant associations were found (more sons: β=0.52, 95% CI −0.08 to 1.12; equal: β=0.11, 95% CI −0.43 to 1.10). After full adjustment, older adults with more sons than daughters had significantly higher life satisfaction than those with more daughters than sons (β=0.53, 95% CI 0.03–1.08, P=0.045). No significant association was observed for equal numbers (β=0.14, 95% CI −0.52 to 0.79).
Conclusion: Among Iranian older adults, having more sons than daughters was associated with higher life satisfaction after adjustment, while equal numbers showed no significant association. These findings contrast with some East Asian studies and may reflect traditional gender roles and expectations of sons' support in old age. Longitudinal research is needed.