School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
4-2017
Abstract
Empty-nest older adults are the fastest-growing population in China. There are three objectives of the present chapter: (1) to provide a national portrait of the changing pattern of co-residence of older adults in the past decade; (2) to identify the sociodemographic determinants of empty-nest families among community-dwelling older adults; and (3) to examine the relationship between older adults’ living arrangements and quality of life. We used the 2006 and 2010 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) samples to document the trends in the rates of co-residing families. In addition, we tested sociodemographic factors that may impact older adults’ living arrangements using the 2005 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We found that the co-residence rate decreased from 60.5% in 2006 to 52.4% in 2010. In addition, age, gender, race, urban living, health, and wealth were associated with co-residence. Finally, compared to older adults living alone, those living with a spouse and those living with their adult children had higher quality of life after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Older adults who live alone are the most vulnerable group. Policymakers as well as health care providers need to identify various risks in this group to promote the health and well-being of older adults.
Recommended Citation
Ye, M., Chen, Y., & Peng, Y. (2017). A new era in living arrangements: Determinants of quality of life among Chinese older adults. In Family, work and wellbeing in Asia (pp. 43-64). Singapore: Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4313-0_3
Publication Title
Family, Work and Wellbeing in Asia
DOI
10.1007/978-981-10-4313-0_3
Comments
subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use