The relationship of well-being with forms of living arrangements is different
for older men and women. Living alone tends to have a positive effect on
women’s well-being. For other forms of living arrangements, well-being is
impaired by the burden of caregiving that falls on women, which is considerably
increased when several generations live together. Men’s well-being
is the highest when they live with a partner and the lowest when they live
alone or with a partner and someone else (children and/or parents). Social
capital (level of education and employment) and economic capital (income
and property) accumulated throughout the life course increase well-being
in older age, especially for women living alone.