Economic Transfers from Adult Children and Healthcare Utilization by Older Chinese Open Access

Abstract

Family support has long been a staple of old-age security in China, however rapid population ageing in recent decades has left the nation with fewer young people to care for a large cohort of older people. At the same time, as this older generation continues to age, and their health begins to decline, their medical needs are likely to put a strain on China's healthcare system. In this study we endeavored to explore the relationship between economic transfers from adult children to their parents, and whether these transfers might be associated with the healthcare utilization of these older people, using data from the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our results suggest that health needs are more important to the decision to seek care than economic supports from adult children, however children themselves are associated with a greater probability of utilizing care; the findings of this study also point to gaps in health services and facilities between urban and rural areas, particularly with regard to inpatient care. Taken together, we believe that this study supports the conclusion that family support will remain a key element of old-age security in China even in the face of population ageing, and would suggest that meeting the health needs of the nation's elderly remain a priority.

Table of Contents

Introduction...............................................................................1

-China's Ageing Population..........................................................1

-Aims and Objectives...................................................................4

-Hypotheses................................................................................5

Background.................................................................................5

-Conceptual Framework...............................................................5

-Intergenerational Exchanges in the Chinese Context....................7

-China's Health System and Other Structural Influences...............11

Data and Methods......................................................................15

-Data........................................................................................15

-Analytical Sample....................................................................17

-Measurements.........................................................................17

--Dependent Variables...............................................................17

--Independent Variables............................................................18

---Predisposing Variables..........................................................19

---Enabling Variables................................................................20

---Need Variables......................................................................21

-Descriptive Statistics................................................................22

-Econometric Models.................................................................22

Results......................................................................................24

-Descriptive Statistics................................................................24

-Analysis of Econometric Models.................................................25

Discussion.................................................................................27

-Interpretation of Results............................................................27

-Limitations...............................................................................29

-Conclusions..............................................................................30

References.................................................................................32

Tables and Figures......................................................................35

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Gerontology Sociology, Demography
Keyword	Healthcare Utilization China Economic Transfers Older People Family
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Argeseanu, Solveig, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs Non-US governmental agency (e.g., Minister of Health in Haiti) University, college or educational institution (other than Emory)

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