Wealth Accumulation and the Erosion of Intergenerational Intimacy: Evidence from Older Adults in China

Drawing on panel data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) spanning 2014–2023, this study investigates the impact of wealth on intergenerational intimacy among older adults in China. It further explores the underlying mechanisms and group-specific heterogeneities. The findings reveal: first, increasing wealth among older adults weakens intergenerational intimacy; second, wealth influences the foundation of traditional intergenerational interaction through a chain-mediating pathway involving enhanced downward intergenerational transfers and reduced dependence on children for future care; third, the frequency of intergenerational contact plays a significant moderating role in this relationship, as frequent interaction mitigates the negative impact of wealth on intimacy; fourth, the effect of older adults’ wealth on intergenerational intimacy exhibits significant heterogeneity across residential location, regional Confucian cultural intensity, and the gender of the older adult. This study systematically elucidates the influence and mechanisms through which older adults’ wealth affects intergenerational intimacy, expands the theoretical lens of intergenerational relationships, and offers new insights into the dynamics of family support and emotional cohesion in contemporary China.