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He L, Xu Z, Chen G, Wang J, Zhao J, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Shi S, Zhang L. Overage labor, value perceptions, and happiness in urban older adults' lives: Empirical evidence from China. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19084. [PMID: 37636417 PMCID: PMC10457537 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Over the past four decades, China has seen a rapid increase in the level of urbanization, along with an increasing number of older adults. How to promote active aging in the midst of rapid urbanization has become a new challenge for the Chinese government and all sectors of society. This study attempts to verify the relationship between overage labor and happiness in life, and further explore the possible mediating role of multidimensional value perceptions. Method Based on 5010 valid samples from the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018 China Health and Aging Tracking Survey datasets (CHARLS), the study explored and tested the differences in happiness in life between older adults with overage labor and retired older adults. In addition, this study further examined the mediating role of multidimensional value perceptions using a mediation model. Results (1) Urban older adults with overage labor had significantly higher levels of happiness in life compared to urban retired older adults. (2) The higher level of life happiness of urban older adults with overage labor depends on their perceptions of different values; (3) Specifically, the realization of value perceptions in personal, family and social dimensions through labor contributes to the life happiness of urban older adults with overage labor. Conclusion There is a significant difference between urban old adults with overage labor and urban retired old adults in terms of happiness in life. At the same time, the study confirmed that all three aspects of value perceptions, such as personal, family and social, are the mediating mechanisms between overage labor and urban old adults in terms of happiness in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (School of Philosophy), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zoujie Xu
- University College London (Department of Political Science), UK
| | - Guo Chen
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (School of Public Administration), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiangyin Wang
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (School of Philosophy), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinxu Zhao
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (School of Philosophy), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zixian Zhang
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (School of Philosophy), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Central China Normal University (School of Politics and International Relations), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shaocheng Shi
- Huazhong Agricultural University (School of Marxism), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- Huanggang Normal University (College of Business), Huanggang, Hubei, China
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He L, Wang K, Wang J, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Li T, Wu Y, Zhang S, Zhang S, Yang H. The effect of serving as a danwei leader before retirement on self-rated post-retirement health: empirical evidence from China. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:573. [PMID: 35321667 PMCID: PMC8941785 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12937-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worker health is often influenced by their occupation type, and the accumulative effect of occupation has a significant impact on their health after retirement. Studies show that the type and level of occupation before retirement directly impact workers' self-rated post-retirement health. However, there is little research on the self-rated post-retirement health of danwei leaders in China. This study seeks to examine the self-rated health level of Chinese danwei leaders after retirement. Furthermore, the differences between their self-rated health level and that of retirees from other occupations are explored by examining the accumulative effect of occupation and the mechanism underlying these differences. METHODS Based on 5,910 samples' data from the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, ordinary least squares, logit, and propensity score matching models are used to investigate the self-rated health level of Chinese danwei leaders after retirement, their differences with other occupations, and the corresponding mechanism. RESULTS The results show that retired danwei leaders have higher self-rated health levels than retirees in other occupations. This was mainly found among female, non-eastern, married, not living with children, and highly educated respondents. The difference in self-rated health between retired danwei leaders and other retired groups was influenced by their post-retirement income and social status. CONCLUSIONS In China, retired danwei leaders rated their health higher than retirees from other occupations. Danwei leaders have high socioeconomic status due to their occupation. Compared with other groups, their advantages are significant and enjoyed for a long time. Additionally, most danwei leaders have high social influence even after retirement and their higher income and social status have a positive impact on their self-rated health compared with other employees. This study provides empirical evidence from China and extends current literature on the effects of occupational type and level on self-rated health after retirement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiangyin Wang
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zixian Zhang
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tianyang Li
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuanyang Wu
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No. 182, Nanhu Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No. 182, Nanhu Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Siqing Zhang
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No. 182, Nanhu Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hualei Yang
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No. 182, Nanhu Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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