Abstract

Drawing on data from the 2026 institutional research project entitled “The roles of sons and daughters in supporting the emotional well-being of older adults in rural areas in the context of digital transformation,” conducted in Nguyen Du Commune, Hung Yen Province, this article examines older adults’ expectations regarding their children’s role in providing emotional care. The findings indicate that 68.8% of older adults express a strong desire to receive attention and care from their children, with visits and conversations ranking as their highest priority (71.7%). Conversely, the need to confide in their children when feeling sad or lonely accounts for the lowest proportion (35.8%). Educational attainment is the factor most strongly associated with the need to be respected and have one’s opinions heard, particularly among those with higher levels of education. Older women place greater importance on physical presence and verbal interaction than older men. The need for attention is highest among those aged 70–79 and gradually declines among individuals aged 80 and above.

Keywords: Emotional well-being, older adults, role of children.