Faculty Opinions recommendation of Bathing and toileting difficulties of older adults in rural China: the role of environment.

Abstract Background For older adults, difficulties in bathing and toileting are often the most prevalent in the index of Activities of daily living (ADL). This study aims to examine how environmental factors are associated with difficulty of bathing and toileting among older adults in rural China. Method The data are from the 2014 Thousand-Village Survey (TVS), a national survey of Chinese rural residents of old age. The sample consists of 10,689 subjects, 55 years or older, from 536 villages across all provinces of China. Logistic regressions were applied to examine how difficulty of bathing and toileting was related to environmental factors such as geographic location, neighbourhood amenity, and related facilities of bathing and toileting. Results Older adults living in the Southern regions of China had lesser difficulty in bathing and toileting than those living in Northern China, controlling for other confounders. Better neighbourhood conditions also reduced the likelihood of having such disabilities. Persons who bathed indoors without showering facilities, in public facilities, and outdoors were significantly more likely to have bathing disability than those who showered indoors with facility. Rural older adults who used pedestal pans and indoor buckets for toileting were more likely to have toileting disability than those who used indoor squatting facilities. Conclusion Environmental barriers were associated with functional disability among older adults in rural China, but the disabled individuals may change their environments to adapt to their functional capabilities. Our findings suggest that it is imperative to promote the use of showering facilities and pedestal pans for toileting in rural China.

Download Full-text

Facing “Double Jeopardy”? Depressive Symptoms in Left-Behind Elderly in Rural China

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264316659964 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1182-1213 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Qian Song

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Rural China ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Left Behind ◽

Multi Level ◽

Traditional Patterns ◽

Poverty Levels

Objective: When examining the depressive symptoms of left-behind elderly, this article goes beyond a focus on disruption to traditional patterns of living arrangements and investigates the heterogeneities in the patterns of migration distance, as well as the role of community contexts in buffering the loss of migrant children’s support. Method: This study uses the first wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, and employs random effects multi-level modeling. Results: Having migrant children is associated with increased depressive symptoms among older adults, above and beyond living arrangements. Having their migrant children all live outside the province further puts older adults in disadvantaged mental conditions. This disadvantage can be further compounded by residence in impoverished communities. Discussion: In assessing depression among rural older adults in China, examination of living arrangements may be insufficient. It may be necessary to reference to children’s migration status as well as community poverty levels.

Download Full-text

Bathing and Toileting Difficulties of Older Adults in Rural China: The Role of Environment

10.21203/rs.3.rs-61521/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Changxi Liu ◽

Joelle H. Fong ◽

Jasmon W. T. Hoh ◽

Hailin Wu ◽

Yunsheng Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Daily Living ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Rural China ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Northern China ◽

Public Facility ◽

Logistic Regressions

Abstract Background: For older adults, difficulties in bathing and toileting are often the most prevalent in the index of Activities of daily living (ADL). This study aims to examine how environmental factors are associated with difficulty of bathing and toileting among older adults in rural China. Method: The data are from the 2014 Thousand-Village Survey (TVS), a national survey of Chinese rural residents of old age. The sample consists of 10,689 subjects, 55 years or older, from 536 villages across all provinces of China. Logistic regressions were applied to examine how difficulty in bathing and toileting was related to environmental factors such as geographic location, neighbourhood amenity, and related facility of bathing and toileting. Results: Older adults living in the southern regions of China had lesser difficulty in bathing and toileting than those living in Northern China, controlling on other confounders. Better neighbourhood conditions also reduced the likelihood of having such disabilities. Persons who bathed indoors without shower facilities, in public facility, and outdoors were significantly more likely to have bathing disability than those who showered indoors. Rural older adults who used pedestal pan and indoor bucket for toileting were more likely to have toileting disability than those who used indoor squatting facilities. Conclusion: Environmental barriers were associated with functional disability among older adults in rural China, but these individuals may also change their environment to adapt to their functioning. Our findings suggest it is imperative to promote the use of showering facilities and pedestal pans for toileting in rural China

Download Full-text

Social Network Types and Health among Older Adults in Rural China: The Mediating Role of Social Support

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 410 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Liping Ye ◽

Xinping Zhang

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural China ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Self Rated Health

This study aimed to identify social network types among older adults in rural China, to explore the relationship between social network types and the health of the older adults, and further, to examine the mediating role of social support in this relationship. A cross-sectional survey method was employed to investigate the health of adults aged 60 or older in rural areas of Hubei Province from 5 September 2018 to 15 October 2018; 405 samples were obtained. First, using k-means clustering analysis, we found five robust network types: diverse, restricted, family, friends and a specific type—family-restricted. Second, the results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that social network types were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health in older adults. Older people with diverse friend networks were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, whereas those with restricted and family-restricted networks were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-rated health. Finally, the results of multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that social support partially mediated the association of the identified social network types with depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Enriching the social network relationships of older adults and providing them with more social support should be conducive to promoting their mental and physical health.

Download Full-text

Someone at Home: How Kinship Support Influences Aging-in-Place Decisions Among Childless Older Adults in Rural China

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1407 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 435-436

Author(s):

Chen Hongzhou ◽

Vivian Lou ◽

Hongzhou Chen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Filial Piety ◽

Rural China ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Kinship Support ◽

Kinship Relations ◽

Grounded Theory Approach ◽

At Home

Abstract Background and aim: 80% of childless older adults in rural China choose to ageing-in-place (AIP) rather than moving to residential facilities, regardless the fact that they were financially constrained, scarily supported and some were physically disabled. This research explores the reason why AIP were prevailing preferred. Research design and Method: A qualitative method adopting constructive grounded theory approach was utilized in this research. 20 in-depth interviews were conducted among childless rural residents (aged 60 to 83 years old, 8 of them were over 75 years old) in Yunnan, one of the most economically disadvantaged provinces in China. Data was transcript and coded line-by-line, a in Vivo coding strategy was engaged to capture local language and meanings. Results: A phrase - ‘there’s someone at home’ - was used by rural childless older adults to explain their AIP decision, which demonstrating the role of kinship relations. Three sub-themes were emerged regarding to the phrase: 1) reciprocity, as the support were mutual and predictable; 2) justified conflicts, as older adults and ‘someone’ managing the support relation with subtle conflict; 3) unspoken agreement, as childless older adults being constrained by filial piety when negotiating for further support. All of sub-themes were related with sense of certainty. For participants who were over 75, growing old were “naturally” related with decreased social support. The daily-based kinship support and sense of certainty was particularly important among childless older adults who would like to choose AIP but still questioning the sustainability of self-reliance at an uncertain rural place.

Download Full-text