Journal of Gerontological Social Work
Volume 52, Issue 5, 2009, Pages 534-554

Intergenerational support of chinese rural elders with migrant children: Do sons' or daughters' migrations make a difference? (Article)

Guo M.* , Chi I. , Silverstein M.
  • a School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, United States
  • c School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, United States

Abstract

This article investigates how the out-migration of adult children affects monetary, instrumental, and emotional support of Chinese rural elders over a 5-year interval, and whether the gender of migrant children makes a difference in such relationships. With a sample of 1,006 older parents (60+) in rural Anhui province, the result of hierarchical regression analyses showed that support from adult children was mainly needs based. Declining income of older parents related to increased monetary support. Experiencing widowhood and difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living was associated with higher probability of receiving instrumental support. Beyond expanding parental needs, only the out-migration of sons led to more monetary and emotional support among elders over time. Implications for policy, social work practice, and future research are discussed. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

China Elderly parents Gender Intergenerational support Out-migration

Index Keywords

China adult child human sex difference daily life activity statistics Activities of Daily Living rural population Adult Children Aged ethnology family size Social Work Intergenerational Relations Family Characteristics human relation Humans male female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics Article migration Sex Factors Emigration and Immigration geriatrics
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-68349095187&doi=10.1080%2f01634370902983245&partnerID=40&md5=286ba6725abe18307dfc663fe71bb771
DOI: 10.1080/01634370902983245
ISSN: 01634372
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English