Migrant older adults do not all experience social support the same way. A new study in BMC Public Health used latent profile analysis on data from 359 migrant older adults and identified four distinct profiles of two-way social support: deficient two-way social support (15.6%), mild support-receiving tendency (25.6%), slight support-giving tendency (44.8%), and balanced two-way social support (14.0%). The results show that imbalances between receiving and giving support were common in this population, with only a minority falling into the balanced group.

The research was published as an open access article in BMC Public Health on 4 November 2026. The authors, including Meijuan Cao, Xiaojuan Xu, Yaling Zeng, Jingwen Xu, Riyu Huang, and Shumin Wang, note in the study’s background that growing evidence highlights the importance of both receiving and giving social support for older adults, but that research on two-way social support, particularly its heterogeneity among migrant older adults, remains limited. The study aimed to identify latent profiles of two-way social support in this population and examine associated factors.

Methodologically, the researchers collected data using structured questionnaires that included the Brief 2-Way Social Support Scale, the Social Convoy Questionnaire, the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and a Health Survey. Latent profile analysis, a statistical technique for identifying unobserved subgroups within a population based on patterns of responses, was used to detect latent subgroups of two-way social support. The R3STEP multinomial logistic regression approach was then applied to examine which factors were associated with membership in the different profiles.

The largest group, at 44.8%, showed a slight support-giving tendency, meaning these older migrants gave somewhat more support than they received. The second-largest profile, at 25.6%, showed a mild support-receiving tendency, tilting toward receiving more than giving. A further 15.6% fell into a deficient two-way social support profile, characterized by low levels of support exchange overall, while 14.0% showed balanced two-way social support, with roughly equal levels of receiving and giving.

The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were associated with profile membership: age, marital status, education level, neuroticism, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. These variables, drawn from the personality and interpersonal needs measures in the survey battery, statistically distinguished which of the four profiles a participant belonged to. The study did not report causal effects; the findings describe associations between these characteristics and support-exchange patterns.

The authors conclude that the study identified heterogeneity in two-way social support among migrant older adults and showed that imbalances between receiving and giving support were common. They suggest these findings may inform tailored interventions to promote more balanced support exchanges and healthy aging among migrant older adults. Because the design is cross-sectional, the results describe patterns at one point in time rather than changes over time, and the associated factors should be interpreted as correlates rather than causes of profile membership.

The study’s focus on migrant older adults addresses a population whose social networks may be disrupted by relocation. By measuring both directions of support exchange with the Brief 2-Way Social Support Scale, the analysis captures not just how much support people receive but also how much they give, a distinction the authors argue is important for understanding well-being in later life.

The article was shared early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research; it is citable and carries a permanent DOI, and this version is subject to further edits before the final Version of Record. The sample of 359 participants and the four-profile solution provide a structured picture of how support exchange varies among migrant older adults, and the identified profiles offer a framework for future research and intervention design in this field.

Subject of Research: Latent profiles of two-way social support and associated factors among migrant older adults

Article Title: A latent profile analysis of 2-way social support among migrant older adults

Article References: Cao, M., Xu, X., Zeng, Y., Xu, J., Huang, R., & Wang, S. (2026). A latent profile analysis of 2-way social support among migrant older adults. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-30171-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-30171-9

Keywords: migrant older adults, two-way social support, latent profile analysis, social support exchange, healthy aging, neuroticism, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, BMC Public Health, multinomial logistic regression, latent, profile