IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/poprpr/v38y2019i1d10.1007_s11113-018-9495-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Children and the Mental Health of Older Adults in China: What Matters?

Author

Listed:
  • Zheng Wu

    (University of Victoria)

  • Margaret J. Penning

    (University of Victoria)

Abstract

China is witnessing several major demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural trends that likely intersect in unique and significant ways to influence the health and well-being of its older adult population. Concerns that such trends may be eroding traditional family structures and values raise questions about the continued importance and impact of children on the lives of their older parents. Do children matter and, if so, what is it about having children that makes a difference to the mental health of their parents? This study addressed these issues using baseline data drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, conducted in 2014. Multivariate OLS regression analyses revealed the importance of having children for parental mental health. This relationship was found to be mediated by economic/utilitarian factors (co-residence, the receipt of financial, and instrumental support) as well as psychological/emotional factors (companionship, emotional support), and social/traditional factors (children’s socioeconomic status achievements). These findings support the view that children continue to be important to the mental health of their older parents in contemporary China. Further, what matters most when it comes to understanding the influence that children have on parents’ mental health are their perceived accomplishments in life and their meaningful presence in the day-to-day lives of their parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheng Wu & Margaret J. Penning, 2019. "Children and the Mental Health of Older Adults in China: What Matters?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(1), pages 27-52, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:38:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11113-018-9495-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-018-9495-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11113-018-9495-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11113-018-9495-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Man Guo & Iris Chi & Merril Silverstein, 2013. "Sources of Older Parents’ Ambivalent Feelings Toward Their Adult Children: The Case of Rural China," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 68(3), pages 420-430.
    2. Sheung-Tak Cheng & Alfred C. M. Chan, 2006. "Filial Piety and Psychological Well-Being in Well Older Chinese," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(5), pages 262-269.
    3. Merril Silverstein & Zhen Cong & Shuzhuo Li, 2006. "Intergenerational Transfers and Living Arrangements of Older People in Rural China: Consequences for Psychological Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(5), pages 256-266.
    4. Hongbin Li & Junjian Yi & Junsen Zhang, 2011. "Estimating the Effect of the One-Child Policy on the Sex Ratio Imbalance in China: Identification Based on the Difference-in-Differences," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(4), pages 1535-1557, November.
    5. Zachary Zimmer & Julia Kwong, 2003. "Family size and support of older adults in urban and rural China: Current effects and future implications," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 40(1), pages 23-44, February.
    6. Bernhard Nauck, 2014. "Value of Children and the social production of welfare," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 30(66), pages 1793-1824.
    7. Monica Das Gupta & Jiang Zhenghua & Li Bohua & Xie Zhenming & Woojin Chung & Bae Hwa-Ok, 2003. "Why is Son preference so persistent in East and South Asia? a cross-country study of China, India and the Republic of Korea," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 153-187.
    8. Martijn J. A. Hogerbrugge & Aafke E. Komter, 2012. "Solidarity and Ambivalence: Comparing Two Perspectives on Intergenerational Relations Using Longitudinal Panel Data," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 67(3), pages 372-383.
    9. Liu, Guangya & Dupre, Matthew E. & Gu, Danan & Mair, Christine A. & Chen, Feinian, 2012. "Psychological well-being of the institutionalized and community-residing oldest old in China: The role of children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(10), pages 1874-1882.
    10. Lin, Nan & Lai, Gina, 1995. "Urban stress in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(8), pages 1131-1145, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nie, Peng & Peng, Xu & Luo, Tianyuan, 2023. "Internet use and fertility behavior among reproductive-age women in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Madia, Joan Eliel & Präg, Patrick & Monden, Christiaan Willem Simon, 2022. "Does Children’s Education Improve Parental Longevity? Evidence From Two Educational Reforms in England," SocArXiv 9n8q5, Center for Open Science.
    3. Zheng Shen & Derek S. Brown & Xiaodong Zheng & Hualei Yang, 2022. "Women’s Off-Farm Work Participation and Son Preference in Rural China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 899-928, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Astghik Mavisakalyan & Anna Minasyan, 2023. "The Role of Conflict in Sex Discrimination: The Case of Missing Girls," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 71(2), pages 443-484.
    2. Wang, Shuhong & Li, Shengxiao (Alex) & Hu, Wanyang, 2022. "Grandparenting and subjective well-being in China: The moderating effects of residential location, gender, age, and income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    3. Fan, Ying & Fang, Shuai & Yang, Zan, 2018. "Living arrangements of the elderly: A new perspective from choice constraints in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 101-116.
    4. Yi Chen & Hanming Fang, 2018. "The Long-Term Consequences of Having Fewer Children in Old Age: Evidence from China’s “Later, Longer, Fewer” Campaign," NBER Working Papers 25041, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Anh P. Ngo, 2020. "Effects of Vietnam’s two-child policy on fertility, son preference, and female labor supply," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(3), pages 751-794, July.
    6. Lin, Siyuan & Argys, Laura M. & Averett, Susan L., 2023. "Exposure to the One-Child Policy and Fertility among Chinese Immigrants to the US," IZA Discussion Papers 16329, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. K. Chen & V. W. Q. Lou & C. Y. M. Cheng & T. Y. S. Lum & J. Y. M. Tang, 2022. "Family Caregiver’s Positive, Negative, and Ambivalent Feelings Towards Stroke Survivors: Association with Psychological Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 169-183, February.
    8. Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan & Pothisiri, Wiraporn & Long, Giang Thanh, 2015. "How do living arrangements and intergenerational support matter for psychological health of elderly parents? Evidence from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 136, pages 106-116.
    9. Zhang, Chuanchuan, 2011. "Children, support in old age and social insurance in rural China," MPRA Paper 37798, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Anning Hu & Dongyu Li, 2021. "Are Elders from Ancestor-Worshipping Families Better Supported? An Exploratory Study of Post-reform China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(3), pages 475-498, June.
    11. Yiyue Huangfu & Jenna Nobles, 2022. "Intergenerational support during the rise of mobile telecommunication in Indonesia," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(36), pages 1065-1108.
    12. Bidisha Mandal & Wenjun Wu, 2023. "Examining the effects of a two-child policy in rural India," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 1-20, September.
    13. Xiaocui Ren & Chen Lu, 2021. "Effect of Children’s Support on Depression among Older Adults Living Alone or with a Spouse: A Comparative Analysis between Urban and Rural Areas of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
    14. Zachary Zimmer & Emily Treleaven, 2020. "The Rise and Prominence of Skip‐Generation Households in Lower‐ and Middle‐Income Countries," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(4), pages 709-733, December.
    15. Nhan, Dang Thanh, 2019. "The Role of the Family in Daily Care of the Elderly in the Light of the Changing Situation in Rural Areas of Vietnam," International Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (IJAGST), SvedbergOpen, vol. 184(3), September.
    16. Chae, Minhee & Meng, Xin & Xue, Sen, 2023. "Fertility, Son-Preference, and the Reversal of the Gender Gap in Literacy/Numeracy Tests," IZA Discussion Papers 16208, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Huiying Liu & Wei Qun Lou, 2016. "Patterns of productive activity engagement among older adults in urban China," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 361-372, December.
    18. Zachary Zimmer & Kim Korinek, 2010. "Shifting coresidence near the end of life: Comparing decedents and survivors of a follow-up study in China," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(3), pages 537-554, August.
    19. Xu, Bing & Pak, Maxwell, 2015. "Gender ratio under China's two-child policy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 289-307.
    20. S. Anukriti, 2013. "The Fertility-Sex Ratio Tradeoff: Unintended Consequences of Financial Incentives," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 827, Boston College Department of Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:38:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11113-018-9495-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.