Socioeconomic status and health among the elderly Chinese people : A longitudinal study
Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The association between socioeconomic status and health has been well studied. It has been found that people in higher social classes generally have better health and a lower mortality. However, it is still inconclusive whether the health advantage acquired by people with a higher socioeconomic status weakens in later life. Although empirical evidence in Western societies has revealed different age-related patterns of health inequality, little is known about the situation in China, which has the largest population of elderly people in the world. Recent studies in some industrialised societies also indicate that socioeconomic status is not only individual but also family level resource. In other words, the family s socioeconomic status affect the health of family members. However, few studies have been conducted in middle-income countries such as China. Unlike in Western societies, co-residence with children is still the main living arrangement among the Chinese elderly, and family members play a significant role in the provision of healthcare for them. Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that the socioeconomic status of family members is even more important in terms of maintaining the health of elderly people in China than it is in Western societies. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the trajectories of health in later life by means of different indicators of socioeconomic status, and to assess whether, and if so how the socioeconomic status of family members affects the health and mortality risk of elderly people in China. The specific aim was to find out whether elderly people with a higher socioeconomic status have better physical and cognitive functioning at baseline and a lower rate of decline with age. A further aim was to assess the extent to which higher educational levels among spouses and offspring are associated with self-rated good health and a lower mortality risk among elderly people. The data used in this study came from the Chinese Longitudinal Health and Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in China in 2002-2011. The CLHLS produced the largest set of population-based survey data covering Chinese people aged 65 and over. It was based on internationally compatible questionnaires and yielded extensive information on socioeconomic status, family structure and background, living arrangements, daily activities, life styles, and health conditions. The results indicate that elderly people with a higher socioeconomic status have generally better physical and cognitive functioning at baseline, but the higher status did not protect against a decline in functioning with age. High education and household income predicted better cognitive functioning but were not associated with activities of daily living (ADL) functioning at baseline. High income was related to better instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) functioning but had no effect on the rate of change in IADL. Inadequate financial resources and unavailability of health services were mainly associated with poorer physical functioning at baseline. The findings also revealed an association between higher spousal education and a lower mortality risk among elderly people. Male elderly people living with a highly-educated child seem to have a lower mortality risk than those living with offspring educated to a low level. It was also found that elderly men and women with a low level of education but living with highly-educated adult children were more likely to report good health, although the interaction effect was only significant for females. Thus, the main effect of education on mortality among elderly males should be interpreted with caution because it may vary according to the education of co-resident children. The findings attest to the importance of socioeconomic status, in particular access to financial resources and health care services, in maintaining physical functioning among elderly people in China. Furthermore, living with a highly educated spouse or child also plays a significant role in reducing mortality risk.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Lei Yang
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2611679509