A Latent Class Analysis of Intergenerational Relationships Among the Elderly Migrants in Nanjing, China

Objective

This study aimed to identify (1) different types of intergenerational relationships among the elderly migrants, (2) factors influencing each type of relationship, and (3) the types significantly associated with psychological well-being of the elderly migrants.

Methods

Data were collected from 654 elderly migrants in Nanjing, China. Incorporating ten solidarity conflict indicators, the latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to classify intergenerational relationships. Logistic regression were used to analyze influencing factors, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze the relationship of each type of intergenerational relationship with depression and life satisfaction.

Results

Three types of intergenerational relationships were classified: tight-knit (65%), conflicting (25%), distant intimate (10%). Gender, marital status, education level, annual income, subjective health, number of children and parentage were influencing factors for the three types. The tight-knit type predicted a healthy mental status.

Discussion

Three intergenerational relationships exist between elderly migrants and their children in Nanjing, China. A closer relationship predicts a better mental health in the elderly migrants.

Self-Rated Health and Life Satisfaction among Elderly Migrants in China: A Moderated Mediation Model of Resilience and Upward Intergenerational Support

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to test whether resilience mediates the association between self-rated health and life satisfaction and the moderated effect of upward intergenerational support among elderly migrants in China.

METHOD

We used self-reported data collected from 654 elderly migrants in Nanjing. The regression analysis using bootstrapping methods was conducted to explore the mediating and moderating effects.

RESULTS

Resilience mediated the relationship between self-rated health and life satisfaction among elderly migrants in China. The moderated mediation analysis indicated that the upward intergenerational support moderated the path between self-rated health and resilience. Specifically, compared with those with a low level of emotional support, the self-rated health of elderly migrants with a high level of emotional support has a stronger effect on resilience. Moreover, the self-rated health of elderly migrants with a low level of financial support has a stronger effect on resilience than those with a higher level of financial support.

CONCLUSION

Resilience could partially mediate the effect of self-rated health on life satisfaction among elderly migrants in China, and upward intergenerational support moderated the indirect relationship between self-rated health and life satisfaction via resilience.

Chinese elderly migrants' loneliness, anxiety and depressive symptoms: The mediation effect of perceived stress and resilience

Elderly migrants who face the dual challenges of aging and migration are more likely to suffer psychological disorders. Existing research has demonstrated a link between loneliness and psychological disorders in the general elderly population. However, we know little about the relationships among elderly migrants, and the psychological mechanisms linking them. This study aims to examine the effects of loneliness on anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese elderly migrants, and explore the mediating roles of perceived stress and resilience. All 654 participants were recruited in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Results showed that loneliness was significantly correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Perceived stress and resilience mediated the relationship between loneliness and anxiety symptoms. The mediating effect of perceived stress was 0.128 (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.092-0.168, Ratio = 37.4%). Resilience was 0.026 (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.005-0.049, Ratio = 7.6%). Furthermore, perceived stress and resilience also mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. The mediating effects were 0.111 and 0.043, respectively (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.073-0.151, Ratio = 27.9%; Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.020-0.069, Ratio = 10.8%). All the mediating effects were significant because the bootstrap 95% CIs did not contain zero. Overall, our findings suggested that loneliness not only can directly influence elderly migrants' anxiety and depressive symptoms but also by increasing perceived stress or decreasing resilience.

The Subjective Well-Being of Elderly Migrants in Dongguan: The Role of Residential Environment

To examine the association between community and individual-level residential environment in relation to subjective well-being (SWB) amongst 470 elderly migrants in China, this community-based survey was conducted. The manner and extent to which the SWB of these elderly migrants is influenced by their residential environment was the main area of focus. The Scale of Happiness of the Memorial University of Newfoundland was used to assess SWB. SWB was found to be associated significantly with environmental factors such as social cohesion, closeness to the nearest facility of recreation, the density of recreation facilities, financial facilities, and health facilities. The health facility density (B = 0.026, p < 0.001) and recreation facility density (B = 0.032, p < 0.001) had positive associations with SWB, while financial facility density (B = −0.035, p < 0.001) had a negative association. The primary determinants of SWB for elderly migrants ranged from individual to environmental factors. Through the enhancement of the accessibility to healthcare facilities in their new homes, in addition to promoting recreational activities and social services, the SWB amongst elderly migrants could be enhanced further.

Perceived stress and life satisfaction among elderly migrants in China: A moderated mediation model

Objective

Our study aims to test whether anxiety mediated the association between perceived stress and life satisfaction and whether the mediating effect was moderated by resilience among elderly migrants in China.

Methods

We used self-reported data collected from 654 elderly migrants in Nanjing. Regression analyses using bootstrapping methods were conducted to explore the mediating and moderating effects.

Results

The results showed that anxiety mediated the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction (indirect effect = -0.040, CI [-0.066, -0.017]). Moreover, moderated mediated analysis indicated that resilience moderated the path between anxiety and life satisfaction (moderating effect = 0.034, 95% CI [0.021, 0.048]). In particular, anxiety had a negative impact on life satisfaction only for Chinese elderly migrants with lower resilience.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that perceived stress could reduce life satisfaction among elderly migrants as their anxiety levels increase. Fortunately, elderly migrants' resilience could undermine this negative effect.

Social Support and Health Services Use in People Aged over 65 Years Migrating within China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Due to the household registration system, Chinese elderly migrants have insufficient access to health services and social support. Thus, this study examined the use of health services, the access to social support, and the interaction among the elderly migrating within China. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey in 2015, adopting probability proportionate to size as the sampling strategy. Structural equation modeling and mediating effect tests were employed to explore the associations. Results: Approximately 45.9% of elderly migrants did not seek health services when needed. The use of outpatient and inpatient services was more common than free essential public health services. The use of health services was negatively associated with migrating duration and migrating for offspring, while it was positively associated with outer social support. The mediating effects of outer social support were discovered on the relationships between the use of health services and independent variables such as migrating duration and migrating for offspring, respectively. Conclusion: Elderly migrants with a longer migrating duration or migrated for offspring seem to obtain less outer social support, resulting in a decreased use of health services. Outer social support was suggested as a key effort to improve the equalization of health services in Chinese elderly migrants.

Effect of social integration on the establishment of health records among elderly migrants in China: a nationwide cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Essential public health service use among the migrants is the key obstacle of the equalisation of public health service in China. This study aims to investigate the status of the establishment of health records, and explore the effect of social integration on the establishment of health records among elderly migrants in China.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This is a cross-sectional study of data from the 2015 National Internal Migrants Dynamic Monitoring Survey in China.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Respondents who not clear about whether they had established health records and who lived in the inflow area for less than 6 months were excluded. A total of 3158 migrants aged over 60 years were included in this study. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were employed to explore the association between social integration and establishment of health records.

RESULTS

Approximately 41.6% of elderly migrants established health records in their inflow communities. Those elderly migrants from higher-income households were less likely to establish health records (p<0.001; OR=0.64; 0.51-0.80). Elderly migrants with local medical insurance (p<0.001; OR=2.03; 1.60-2.57), long-term settlement intention (p<0.001; OR=1.37; 1.15-1.63), and had more than three local friends (p<0.001; OR=1.54; 1.27-1.86) were more likely to establish health records.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a relationship between social integration and establishment of the health records among elderly migrants in China. Improving the social integration of elderly migrants might be helpful to enhance the equalisation of essential public health services.

Nothing Like Living with a Family: A Qualitative Study of Subjective Well-Being and its Determinants among Migrant and Local Elderly in Dongguan, China

Chinese economic development has led to a significant rise in internal migration over the last 20 years, including large numbers of elderly. When elderly Chinese people migrate, they still register their residency to their place of origin and often do not register with the new administrative office at the destination due to the household registration (hukou) system in China. Thus, most of these migrant elderly do not receive full social services, possibly leading to poor subjective well-being. This study aims to qualitatively examine the level of subjective well-being and its determinants among migrants and local elderly in Dongguan City of Guangdong province, one of the most rapid economically developing areas in China. We also present the results of in-depth interviews among 27 elderly, 15 elderly migrants and 12 local elderly living in Dongguan. The results reveal that the overall subjective well-being of the two groups were good. Most migrants believed their well-being had remained stable or even improved over time due to family reunion and a better physical environment. Elderly’s most valuable needs and the main reason of migration is family reunion; however, inadequacy of social support, including community support and government support (e.g., gift during holiday season, free health examination, healthcare expenditure reimbursement), cannot be neglected for maintaining a good level of well-being. The well-being of migrant elderly can be further enhanced by promoting social services and welfare, recreational activities, and enhancing healthcare reimbursement in their new home.

The Role of the Social Network in Access to Psychosocial Services for Migrant Elderly-A Qualitative Study

Background: Despite high prevalence of mental problems among elderly migrants in The Netherlands, the use of psychosocial care services by this group is low. Scientific evidence points at the crucial role of social support for mental health and the use of psychosocial services. We therefore explored the role of social networks in the access to psychosocial care among elderly migrants in The Netherlands. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured group interviews and individual interviews. The eight group and eleven individual interviews (respectively n = 58 and n = 11) were conducted in The Netherlands with Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, and Dutch elderly. The data were analysed through coding and comparing fragments and recognizing patterns. Results: Support of the social network is important to navigate to psychosocial care and is most frequently provided by children. However, the social network of elderly migrants is generally not able to meet the needs of the elderly. This is mostly due to poor mental health literacy of the social network, taboo, and stigma around mental illness and the busy lives of the social network members. Conclusions: Strategies to address help-seeking barriers should consider mental health literacy in elderly migrants as well as their social networks, and counteract taboos and stigma of mental health problems.

Elderly Migration in China: Types, Patterns, and Determinants

We examined the migration patterns of older adults in China and the determinants associated with migration. Using select data from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we conducted a spatial analysis to explore the geographical patterns of different types of older migrants. The relationships between personal, environmental attributes, and migration were examined using logistic-linear modeling techniques. Approximately 6.6% of the Chinese adults aged 60 and older migrated in the past 10 years. Elderly migration occurred primarily in metropolitan areas and frontier provinces in China. Personal attributes, family structure, and housing conditions were associated with migration. The spatial patterns were associated with personal culture background, social policy, and regional development. The implications of elderly migration, with respect to establishing proper social policy and paying attention to the living environment of both migrant and non-migrant elders were discussed.