This paper analyzes the effects of kin availability and short-term economic stress on mortality among older adults in North Orkney, Scotland in the mid-19th through early 20th century. The mortality of those aged 60+ is associated with high oatmeal prices lagged by one year, a delayed effect that may suggest that buffering mechanisms are less effective in the longer term or that relative to younger groups, older adults are better able to cope with the immediate effects of stress. Associations between mortality risk and indicators of kin availability vary by individual sociodemographic characteristics, but they are limited to close kin in both the spatial and genealogical sense. Benefits of nearby, but not coresident kin accrue only to ever-married men during times of high food prices. Coresident and nearby kin are associated with complex patterns of mortality risk, suggesting that family relationships may represent a resource in some circumstances, but a liability in others. There is limited evidence for the effects of expansive kin support for aging adults and support flows do not always favor the older generation.

中文翻译：

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苏格兰北奥克尼群岛的亲属联系、经济压力和晚年死亡率，1851 年至 1911 年


本文分析了 19 世纪中叶至 20 世纪初苏格兰北奥克尼群岛老年人的亲属关系和短期经济压力对死亡率的影响。 60岁以上人群的死亡率与滞后一年的高燕麦价格有关，这种延迟效应可能表明缓冲机制从长远来看效果较差，或者相对于年轻群体，老年人能够更好地应对压力的直接影响。死亡风险与亲属可获得性指标之间的关联因个体社会人口特征而异，但仅限于空间和谱系意义上的近亲。在高粮价时期，只有已婚男性才能享受到附近而非同居亲属的好处。同住和附近的亲属与复杂的死亡风险模式相关，这表明家庭关系在某些情况下可能是一种资源，但在其他情况下却是一种负担。关于扩大亲属支持对老年人的影响的证据有限，而且支持流并不总是有利于老一代。