scholarly journals Social Engagement and Elderly Health in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS)

Author(s):  
Jin Liu ◽  
Scott Rozelle ◽  
Qing Xu ◽  
Ning Yu ◽  
Tianshu Zhou

This study examines the impact of social engagement on elderly health in China. A two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) regression approach was used to examine the causal relationship. Our dataset comprises 9253 people aged 60 or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) conducted in 2011 and 2013. Social engagement significantly improved the self-rated health of the elderly and reduced mental distress, but had no effect on chronic disease status. Compared with the rural areas, social engagement played a more important role in promoting the elderly health status in urban areas. Social engagement could affect the health status of the elderly through health behavior change and access to health resources. To improve the health of the elderly in China and promote healthy aging, the government should not only improve access to effective medical care but also encourage greater social engagement of the elderly.

Author(s):  
Shamsul Azhar Shah ◽  
Nazarudin Safian ◽  
Saharuddin Ahmad ◽  
Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah ◽  
Zulkefley bin Mohammad ◽  
...  

Happiness is an essential component to experience healthy ageing. Hence, understanding the factors that contribute to happiness is important. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with happiness among the elderly population in Malaysia. In this study, 1204 respondents were recruited from urban and rural areas in Selangor. A face-to-face interview was conducted using the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study questionnaire. The inclusion criteria include Malaysians who are 60-years old and above and can converse in the Malaysian language. Those who encounter less than seven scores for the Abbreviated Mental Test were excluded from the study. Among the 1204 respondents, 953 (79.2%) were happy. Sociodemographic characteristics showed that being a men, age of 60 to 74 years, and living in urban areas were significantly associated with happiness. A logistic regression model showed that locality (aOR 1.61), income category (Bottom 40% aOR 0.49; Middle-class group 40% aOR 1.40), social engagement (active aOR 1.77; less active aOR 1.25), receiving emotional support (aOR 2.11) and handgrip strength (aOR 1.02) were significantly associated with happiness. Thus, ensuring the elderly population in receiving emotional support and active social engagement among them can enhance their happiness level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 2751-2762
Author(s):  
Mércia Santos da Cruz ◽  
Jair Andrade Araujo ◽  
Adriano Nascimento da Paixão

Abstract The aim of the article is to investigate the impacts of co-residence over spouce and\or children on self-perceived health among Brazilian elderly. The database used was the health supplement of the National Sample Survey of Households (PNAD) conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2008. The sample consists of 36 551 people from all regions of the country such as urban areas and rurals. The results indicate that seniors with better socioeconomic status, who don’t have physical mobility problems are more propenspos to a better self report among their health, regardless of the gender of the elderly. Regarding the impact of co-residence family health of respondents, living with daughters increases the probability that perception is better (specifically good or very good). Moreover,the results are consistent with the hypothesis that elderly brazilians realize better their health with home living with daughters and/or spouse.


Author(s):  
Agnieszka Bem ◽  
Paulina Ucieklak-Jeż

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the health of the elderly, living in rural areas of Poland. The analysis based on a survey “The health status of the Polish population” carried out by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). In order to assess the differences in the health status of the villagers and townsfolk’s we have examined the share of older people living in rural and urban areas in the structure of the whole population. We have also identified the measures of the health status. We have calculated, using the Sullivan method, the value of Healthy Life Expectancy, Disability Free Life Expectancy,.Chronic Disease Life for the Polish rural and urban elderly population. The study has shown, the villagers live shorter in good health (without disability and chronic diseases). Presented study allows to formulate the desirable directions of changes to improve the health status of rural population. This should lead to more effective health care in rural areas.


Author(s):  
V. R. Zare ◽  
Prashant Kokiwar ◽  
B. Ramesh

Background: Due to advancement in the medical science, the life expectancy is showing an increase in every census. Hence there is also growing demand to have good quality of life among the elderly. The objective of the study was to assess and compare the health status of elderly in urban areas of Shapur and rural areas of Gummadidala.Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was carried out in rural areas located at Gummadidala, Nallavelli, Anantharam and in urban areas located at Shapur, Kalavathinagar, Subashnagar among geriatric aged people above 60 years. Study was conducted over a period of eight months from August 2017 to March 2018.Results: Overall almost all diseases were more common in rural elders compared to the urban elders except gynecological diseases. Among these hypertension, ear diseases, skin diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychological disorders, cancer and neurological diseases were significantly more common in rural elders than urban elders (p<0.05). Only gynecological diseases were significantly more common in urban women and this may be due to more percentage of hysterectomies among rural females.Conclusions: Elderly people in the rural areas are more prone to suffer from diseases as compared to their urban counterparts. 


Author(s):  
Wenjian Zhou ◽  
Jianming Hou ◽  
Meng Sun ◽  
Chang Wang

China is about to enter a moderate aging society. In the process of social and economic development, the family socioeconomic status and health status of the elderly have also changed significantly. Learning the impact of family socioeconomic status on elderly health can help them improve family socioeconomic status and better achieve healthy and active aging. Using the data of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018, this study firstly analyzed the impact of family socioeconomic status on elderly health using the multivariate linear regression model and quantile regression model, the heterogeneity of different elderly groups using subsample regression, and the mediation effects of three conditions associated with the family socioeconomic status of the elderly. The results show that family socioeconomic status has a negative effect on the frailty index, that is, it has a positive impact on elderly health. Family socioeconomic status has a higher positive impact on the health status of the middle and lower age elderly and rural elderly. Overall living status and leisure and recreation status both have mediation effects, while health-care status has no mediation effect.


2020 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 01044
Author(s):  
Zhang Youlu ◽  
Chi Ying

The labor participation of the elderly is an important level of labor supply in China, and healthy human capital is one of the main factors affecting the labor participation of the elderly. Based on the data of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2014, this paper uses the Probit model to empirically analyze the impact of the healthy human capital of the elderly in China on their labor force participation rate. The results show that when individual characteristic variables, family characteristic variables and social characteristic variables are added, healthy human capital is positively correlated with labor participation of retired elderly people. The better health status is, the higher labor participation rate is. With the decline in health status, the labor force participation rate of retired elderly people decreased significantly. The influence of healthy human capital on labor participation of the elderly in China is also heterogeneous between urban and rural areas, gender and age, among which the influence of healthy human capital on labor participation of the elderly in rural areas, males and young age groups is higher than that in urban areas, females and elderly retirees.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixing Yang ◽  
Tai zhang ◽  
Zhaoquan Huang ◽  
Dong Gao ◽  
Zhenyou Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study aimed to examine the patterns of chronic conditions and the role of primary care access on health status among rural elderly.Methods 6451 elderly aged ≥ 60 years from 5540 households in 116 villages in western rural areas of China were randomly selected and assessed the their health status using the EQ-5D-3L instrument. EQ-5D descriptive system and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were descriptive analyses by patterns of chronic conditions. We identified the impact of multimorbidity and primary care access on health status using multilevel linear model.Results 55% of the pooled sample reported at least one chronic condition, and 30.2% had more than one. Hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic bronchitis were the most frequently reported conditions. After adjustment for sociodemographic status and patterns of chronic conditions, primary care access significantly associated with health status for the elderly in late life.Conclusion Primary care access and health services should take priority action for rural elderly, especially elderly with multimobidity in lower household income, living in mountainous areas where distance to township hospital is long.


Author(s):  
Kalaichelvi Sivaraman ◽  
Rengasamy Stalin

This research paper is the part of Research Project entitled “Impact of Elected Women Representatives in the Life and Livelihood of the Women in Rural Areas: With Special Reference to Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu” funded by University of Madras under UGC-UPE Scheme.The 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution of India were made by the government to strengthen the position of women and to create a local-level legal foundation for direct democracy for women in both rural and urban areas. The representation for women in local bodies through reservation policies amendment in Constitution of India has stimulated the political participation of women in rural areas. However, when it’s comes to the argument of whether the women reservation in Panchayati Raj helps or benefits to the life and livelihood development of women as a group? The answer is hypothetical because the studies related to the impact of women representatives of Panchayati Raj in the life and livelihood development of women was very less. Therefore, to fill the gap in existing literature, the present study was conducted among the rural women of Tiruvannamalai district to assess the impact of elected women representatives in the physical and financial and business development of the women in rural areas. The findings revealed that during the last five years because of the women representation in their village Panjayati Raj, the Physical Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (55.8%) and Highly (23.4%) and the Financial and Business Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (60.4%) and Highly (18.7%).


Author(s):  
Natuya Zhuori ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Yu Cui ◽  
Minjuan Zhao

As the trend of aging in rural China has intensified, research on the factors affecting the health of the elderly in rural areas has become a hot issue. However, the conclusions of existing studies are inconsistent and even contradictory, making it difficult to form constructive policies with practical value. To explore the reasons for the inconsistent conclusions drawn by relevant research, in this paper we constructed a meta-regression database based on 65 pieces of relevant literature published in the past 25 years. For more valid samples to reduce publication bias, we also set the statistical significance of social support to the health of the elderly in rural areas as a dependent variable. Finally, combined with multi-dimensional social support and its implications for the health of the elderly, meta-regression analysis was carried out on the results of 171 empirical studies. The results show that (1) subjective support rather than objective support can have a significant impact on the health of the elderly in rural areas, and there is no significant difference between other dimensions of social support and objective support; (2) the health status of the elderly in rural areas in samples involving western regions is more sensitive to social support than that in samples not involving the western regions; (3) among the elderly in rural areas, social support for the older male elderly is more likely to improve their health than that for the younger female elderly; and (4) besides this, both data sources and econometric models greatly affect the heterogeneity of the effect of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas, but neither the published year nor the journal is significant. Finally, relevant policies and follow-up studies on the impact of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas are discussed.


Author(s):  
Chensong Lin ◽  
Longfeng Wu

Many empirical studies have shown evidence of multiple health benefits provided by green and blue spaces. Despite the importance of these spaces, investigations are scarce in details for blue spaces rather than green. Moreover, most research has focused on developed regions. A limited number of studies on blue spaces can be found in China with a focus on the city level. Outcomes have been mixed due to varying research scales, methodologies, and definitions. This study relies on a national-level social survey to explore how the self-rated health (SRH) of senior individuals is associated with local green and blue space availability in urban and rural areas. Results indicate that the coverage ratio of overall green spaces and waterbodies around a resident’s home have marginal effects on SRH status in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, living close to a park can is marginally beneficial for older people’s health. Regarding different types of blue spaces, the presence of a major river (within 0.3–0.5 km) or coastline (within 1 km and 1–5 km) in the vicinity of home negatively affects SRH among the elderly in urban areas. Close proximity to lakes and other types of waterbodies with a water surface larger than 6.25 ha did not significantly influence SRH. These findings not only evaluate general health impacts of green/blue space development on senior populations across the county but inform decision makers concerning the health-promoting qualities and features of different green/blue spaces to better accommodate an aging population in the era of urbanization.


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