scholarly journals Does it matter where the children are? The wellbeing of elderly people ‘left behind’ by migrant children in Moldova

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
JENNIFER WAIDLER ◽  
MICHAELLA VANORE ◽  
FRANZISKA GASSMANN ◽  
MELISSA SIEGEL
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Variable Approach

ABSTRACTThis paper empirically evaluates the wellbeing of elderly individuals ‘left behind’ by their adult migrant children in Moldova. Using data from a nationally representative household survey conducted in 2011–12 in Moldova, the wellbeing outcomes of elderly individuals aged 60 and older with and without adult children living abroad are compared (N = 1,322). A multi-dimensional wellbeing index is constructed on the basis of seven indicators within four dimensions of wellbeing: physical health, housing, social wellbeing and emotional wellbeing. Probit regressions are used to predict the probability of an elderly individual being considered well in each indicator and then on total index level. The results reveal that elderly persons with an adult migrant child have a higher probability of being well in one physical health indicator. Following correction for the selectivity of migration using an instrumental variable approach, however, the migration of an adult child is no longer found to predict significantly the wellbeing of their elderly parents in any dimension, suggesting that migration bears limited consequences for elderly wellbeing.

scholarly journals What Happens to the Health of Elderly Parents When Adult Child Migration Splits Households? Evidence from Rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianxiang Li ◽  
Beibei Wu ◽  
Fujin Yi ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Tomas Baležentis
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Parental Health ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Farm Work ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Variable Approach ◽  
Child Migration ◽  
The Impact

There is little understanding about the effects of adult child migration on the health of elderly parents left behind in the light of economic contribution and time allocation (farm work and emotional cohesion). Using the pooled data from three latest issues of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in the rural areas, this study assesses the impact of child migration on parents’ health by employing instrumental variable approach to deal with the endogeneity problem. Overall, the evidence suggests that adult child migration impairs parental health as indicated by lower self-reported health (SRH), body mass index (BMI), physical activity of daily living (PADL), and higher depression score. Moreover, parents who are female, poorly-educated, and living with one adult child at least are the most vulnerable groups in terms of poor health outcomes. The negative impact of farming burden on the health of parents left behind outweighs the positive impact of economic support and emotional cohesion. Thus, child migration exerts a significantly negative impact on parental health. Establishing medical and social security systems for the elderly is important to complement the traditional family support in rural China.

scholarly journals Adult Child Migration and Elderly Multidimensional Well-Being: Comparative Analysis Between Moldova and Georgia

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 599-622
Author(s):  
Michaella Vanore ◽  
Melissa Siegel ◽  
Franziska Gassmann ◽  
Jennifer Waidler
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Elderly Parent ◽  
Child Migration ◽  
The Relationship

Despite growing concern over the potential consequences of migration for the “left behind,” few systematic attempts have been made to document the relationship between the migration of an adult child and the well-being of his or her elderly parent(s) remaining in the country of origin. This article proposes a multidimensional elderly well-being index that enables the identification and comparison of outcomes between elderly individuals with and without adult migrant children in Moldova and Georgia, two former Soviet states that are both experiencing demographic and mobility transitions. The outcomes of elderly individuals with and without children living abroad are compared to illustrate in what domains child absence through migration corresponds to differing well-being outcomes. The findings suggest that the migration of an adult child is not as significant a factor in shaping well-being outcomes as would be expected based on past literature; other factors may play much stronger roles in shaping of well-being.

scholarly journals A profile of Australian mental health carers, their caring role and service needs: results from the 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 670-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Diminic ◽  
E. Hielscher ◽  
M. G. Harris ◽  
Y. Y. Lee ◽  
J. Kealton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Formal Service

AbstractAimsPlanning mental health carer services requires information about the number of carers, their characteristics, service use and unmet support needs. Available Australian estimates vary widely due to different definitions of mental illness and the types of carers included. This study aimed to provide a detailed profile of Australian mental health carers using a nationally representative household survey.MethodsThe number of mental health carers, characteristics of carers and their care recipients, caring hours and tasks provided, service use and unmet service needs were derived from the national 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers. Co-resident carers of adults with a mental illness were compared with those caring for people with physical health and other cognitive/behavioural conditions (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, dementia) on measures of service use, service needs and aspects of their caring role.ResultsIn 2012, there were 225 421 co-resident carers of adults with mental illness in Australia, representing 1.0% of the population, and an estimated further 103 813 mental health carers not living with their care recipient. The majority of co-resident carers supported one person with mental illness, usually their partner or adult child. Mental health carers were more likely than physical health carers to provide emotional support (68.1%v.19.7% of carers) and less likely to assist with practical tasks (64.1%v.86.6%) and activities of daily living (31.9%v.48.9%). Of co-resident mental health carers, 22.5% or 50 828 people were confirmed primary carers – the person providing the most support to their care recipient. Many primary mental health carers (37.8%) provided more than 40 h of care per week. Only 23.8% of primary mental health carers received government income support for carers and only 34.4% received formal service assistance in their caring role, while 49.0% wanted more support. Significantly more primary mental health than primary physical health carers were dissatisfied with received services (20.0%v.3.2%), and 35.0% did not know what services were available to them.ConclusionsResults reveal a sizable number of mental health carers with unmet needs in the Australian community, particularly with respect to financial assistance and respite care, and that these carers are poorly informed about available supports. The prominence of emotional support and their greater dissatisfaction with services indicate a need to better tailor carer services. If implemented carefully, recent Australian reforms including the Carer Gateway and National Disability Insurance Scheme hold promise for improving mental health carer supports.

scholarly journals Norms and Care Relationships in Transnational Families: The Case of Elderly Parents Left Behind in Lithuania

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Transnational Families ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Migration Rates ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Normative Expectations ◽  
Care Relationships

AbstractIn the context of high migration rates and limited formal care support for the elderly the paper deals with normative expectations and actual flows of support in Lithuanian transnational families. The study is based on a representative survey of elderly parents who have at least one migrant child (N=305). The data analysis revealed predominance of familistic attitudes towards filial responsibilities in transnational families. We did not find any significant differences in filial expectations between the two types of transnational families (elderly parents having only migrant children and those with both migrant and non-migrant children). High expectations of elderly parents are not being met in regards to face-to-face and virtual contacts with migrant adult children. The differences in provided/ received emotional support between migrant and non-migrant children were insignificant. However, the data revealed significant differences in provided/received financial support between migrant and non-migrant children.

Adult children labour migration and parent health: evidence from Indonesian panel data

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfiah Hasanah ◽  
Bayu Kharisma ◽  
Sutyastie Soemitro Remi
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Labour Migration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of adult child labour migration on the health of parents and the possible mechanism that contributes to the health of families left behind. Design/methodology/approach Several indicators of parents’ health are analysed and several subgroups – parents of migrant sons, parents of migrant daughters, parents aged 50+ and parents who live in rural areas are investigated. The data from Indonesia Family Life Survey are used and the fixed effects method is used to address potential endogeneity and instrumental variables are applied in the sensitivity analysis. Findings The labour out-migration of adult children has a positive and significant association with the health status of the parent left behind. The parents of migrant children are more likely to have a better self-rated health status, fewer episodes of morbidity symptoms, fewer unhealthy days, fewer visits to outpatient care and are less likely to be on medication than the parents of non-migrant children. Research limitations/implications The study design in a longitudinal setting, however, there is a relatively many years gap between waves could provide insufficient statistical power for measuring health variations. Future studies should consider to explore possible health outcomes for parents who co-resided with an adult child and the types and severity of various disease conditions. Practical implications Highlights challenges in health-care provision for older people in Indonesia and the possible contribution of health disparities in developing countries. Originality/value Explores the impact of out-migration of adult children on the health of parents left behind, using very recent data of over a long period of a longitudinal design.

scholarly journals Transnational Displays of Parenting and Caring For Elderly Parents

2020 ◽  
pp. 127-154
Author(s):  
Irena Juozeliūnienė ◽  
Gintė Martinkėnė ◽  
Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė
Keyword(s):  
Adult Child ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Transnational Families ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Global Migration ◽  
Family Practices ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Migrant Parents

This chapter is set up to incorporate Finch’s idea of ‘display’ to examine how migrant parents, adult migrant children, and close significant persons perform a set of actions to convey to each other and the society at large that these are family-doing activities. The authors sought to demonstrate that the concept of ‘display’ could be applied to analyze transnational practices of parenting and caring for elderly parents in a quantitative way. The chapter draws on the data from a quotabased survey (N = 304) of three types of transnational families: mother-away and father-away with under-aged children living in Lithuania and adult child-away with elderly parents needing care living in Lithuania. The study was carried out in August 2018 as part of the research project ‘Global Migration and Lithuanian Family: Family Practices, Circulation of Care, and the Return Strategies’.

Being an adult child of an elderly person living in a nursing home: a phenomenological approach to the Turkish case

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pelin Önder Erol ◽  
Elif Gün
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Elderly Person ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose A long-established cultural norm of filial piety may cause ambivalent feelings for adult children who are considered the primary caregivers for their elderly parents in Turkish culture, and whose parents have been placed into nursing homes. The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight to the lived experiences of adult children of elderly people living in a nursing home in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach Drawing upon dramaturgical theory and phenomenological methodology, the authors conducted interviews with ten adult children whose elderly parents had been admitted to a nursing home in Izmir, Turkey. Multi-stage purposeful random sampling was used as the sampling scheme. Thematic analysis was performed to interpret the data. Findings Three themes emerged from the data: adult children’s coping strategies, the ways in which the adult children rationalize their decisions, and the ways in which the adult children manage the placement process. The interviews revealed that the adult children often feel like social outcasts and experience a wide range of difficulties, including social pressures, their own inner dilemmas, and negotiations with their elderly parents. Originality/value An exploration for the lived experiences of adult children relating to the nursing home placement of their elderly parents contributes an insight about the well-established cultural norms that produce feelings of ambivalence.

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