Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Caring for grandchildren is a common and normative experience for many Chinese grandparents. This study investigates the influence of child care provision on older adults' health trajectories in China. METHOD: Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2006), we apply growth curve models to examine the effect of living arrangements and intensity of caregiving for grandchildren on older adults' health trajectories. We use propensity score weighting to take into account potential selection bias. RESULTS: Grandparents living in skipped-generation households do not suffer from a deficit in self-reported health, particularly when they have higher family income. Those living in three-generation households experience a slightly more rapid health decline than older adults who live independently, although the paternal grandparents in this type of household have a significant health advantage over the maternal grandparents. Among the coresiding grandparents, high intensity care for younger grandchildren accelerates health declines, whereas a lighter level of care has a protective effect. In addition, rural grandparents and grandfathers engaging in high intensity care have worse self-reported health on average. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that grandchild care does not have a universally beneficial or detrimental effect on health, but rather its effect depends on the form and level of caregiving and is further shaped by individual characteristics, as well as normative and structural contexts.
Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, Duke University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2134956216