A study of intergenerational support and the health relationship of the elderly population: Evidence from CHARLS
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Currently, the relationship of intergenerational support on health is mainly focused on physical health and mental health, and there are fewer studies on the relationship of intergenerational support on self-assessed health. Therefore, this paper discusses and analyzes the possible relationship of intergenerational support on the self-assessed health of older adults in terms of the bidirectional support of various forms of support between older parents and their adult children in terms of financial, living, and emotional support(CHARLS). Methods: This study was conducted on participants aged 65 and over, using the CHARLS 2020 survey, involving 6359 (3069 men and 3290 women) elderly people.Health was measured in three dimensions: physical, psychological, and self-assessment; intergenerational support was measured in three dimensions: financial, life care, and spiritual comfort; and regression models analysed the relationship between intergenerational support and the health of the elderly population. Results: Children's life care support (p < 0.05) had a significant positive association on physiological health, but a significant negative association on the elderly's psychological and self-assessed health, children's spiritual comfort support (p < 0.05) had a positive association on the elderly's physiological health, psychological health, and self-assessed health, and children's financial support (p < 0.05) was positively correlated with the elderly's psychological, and children's financial support had a positive association, but not related to physical health and self-rated health of the elderly. Conclusions: The relationship between intergenerational support and the health of the older population is complex, with life-care support significantly contributing to physical health but negatively affecting mental health and self-assessed health; spiritual comfort support positively affecting physical, mental and self-assessed health; and financial support having a primarily positive effect on mental health. Therefore, children should fully respect and utilise the 'autonomy' of the elderly when providing intergenerational support to the elderly in their families. It is also important to improve intergenerational communication abilities and skills, which will help to better understand and fulfil the needs of older people, thereby promoting their physical and mental health.
Source: Heliyon
Authors: Jinzhen Wang, Wenjia Peng, Changjun Miao, Yuekui Bao, Danhong Yang
Institution: Fudan University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,100
Awards: G4493086171, G7841943333, G8856833314
OpenAlex ID: W4403694718