Table 2 Mixed-effects linear regression models for analysing the association of family factors and perceived social support (higher scores indicating higher support)

Constant

76.3 (66.74,86.00)

< 0.001

69.60(59.77,79.43)

< 0.001

72.49(63.47,81,51)

< 0.001

Family factors

Age

 Continuous

-0.26(-0.36, -0.16)

< 0.001

-0.18(-0.28, -0.07)

0.001

-0.10(-0.21,0.00)

0.06

-0.09(-0.20,0.01)

0.08

Gender

 Man

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Woman

-1.41(-2.8, -0.02)

0.05

0.24(-1.27,1.75)

0.76

1.77(0.17,3.37)

0.03

Family size

 0–10 members

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 11 + members

2.31(0.20,4.42)

0.03

0.95(-1.10,3.02)

0.36

1.51(-0.52,3.54)

0.14

Household size

 1 (only participant)

Ref. 1

 2–4 people

4.40(2.03,6.78)

0.001

 5 people or more

3.85(1.00,6.71)

Married or not

 No

Ref. 1

 Yes

5.42(3.64,7.20)

< 0.001

N of children

 Continuous

0.22(-0.13,0.58)

0.22

N of daughter

 Continuous

0.02(-0.47,0.51)

0.92

N of son

 Continuous

0.58(0.03,1.13)

0.04

Having 1 + rich child

 No

Ref. 1

 Yes

0.44(-1.41,2.29)

0.64

Having 1 + highly educated child

 No

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Yes

2.36(0.78,3.94)

0.003

1.36(-1.18,2.90)

0.08

0.49(-1.05,2.04)

0.53

0.45(-1.09,1.99)

0.57

Living arrangement

 Living alone/others

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Living with child/ren only

1.18(-1.42,3.79)

< 0.001

0.49(-2.08,3.07)

0.0001

0.04(-2.05,2.60)

0.003

-0.11(-2.66,2.44)

0.003

 Living with spouse only

5.15(2.72,7.58)

4.07(1.62,6.51)

2.94(0.51,5.37)

2.77(0.35,5.20)

 Living with spouse& child/ren

6.10(3.68,8.52)

4.75(2.31,7.18)

3.57(1.15,5.98)

3.44(1.03,5.85)

Geographic proximity of 1 + child ***

 Same home

Ref. 1

 Same neighbourhood

-1.32(-3.33,0.67)

0.23

 Same city or farther

0.69(-1.25,2.64)

Living with 1 + daughter

 No

Ref. 1

 Yes

0.46(-1.17,2.10)

0.60

Living with 1 + son

 No

Ref. 1

 Yes

0.69(-0.86,2.24)

0.38

Quantity of contacts with 1 + child***

 Less than everyday

Ref. 1

 Everyday

1.66(-0.05,3.37)

0.06

Quality of relationships with spouse ***

 Less than very good

Ref. 1

 Very good

1.70(-0.20,3.61)

0.08

Quality of relationships with 1 + child***

 Less than very good

Ref. 1

 Very good

3.16(1.57,4.76)

< 0.001

Quality of relationships with 1 + family member

 Less than very good

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Very good

5.23(3.34,7.11)

< 0.001

4.02(2.12,5.93)

< 0.001

3.48(1.61,5.34)

< 0.001

3.42(1.03,5.85)

< 0.001

Other covariates

Education

 Illiterate

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 1–9 years

2.10(0.40,3.80)

0.0004

1.06(-0.62,2.75)

0.02

1.10(-0.58,2.78)

0.02

 10 years and more

5.81(2.90,8.72)

4.11(1.23,7.00)

4.07(1.20,6.94)

Economic status perceived

 Poorer than average

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Same or better than average

2.76(1.15,4.37)

0.001

1.18(-0.39,2.76)

0.14

1.21(-0.36,2.78)

0.13

GHQ

 Rest quartiles

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Worst quartile

-6.10(-7.79, -4.40)

< 0.001

-4.54(-6.31,-0.2.7)

< 0.001

-4.58(-6.33, -2.82

< 0.001

Nagi

 Rest quartiles

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

Ref. 1

 Worst quartile

-2.76(-4.51, -1.01)

0.002

-1.16(-2.89,0.56)

0.19

-1.13(-2.85,0.59

0.09

Interaction Family size*Gender P.V

0.03

Family size in men

 0–10 members

Ref. 1

 11 + members

-0.41(-3.06,2.24)

0.76

Family size in women

 0–10 members

Ref. 1

 11 + members

3.89(0.95,6.82)

0.009

LR test vs. linear regression P.v

Neighbourhood-level ICC

Household-level ICC

< 0.001

0.26

0.72

< 0.001

0.22

0.68

0.0001

0.22

0.68