Youcai Xiang1, Lisha Hao2, Li Qiu3, Yuan Zhao4, Danan Gu5. 1. Ginling College, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China. 2. School of Geographical Science, International Center for Aging and Health, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China. 3. New York, USA. 4. School of Geographical Science, Ginling College, International Center for Aging and Health, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing, China. 5. United Nations Population Division, New York, USA. Electronic address: gudanan@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to address whether associations between financial resources and self-perceived uselessness are different by urban-rural residence and whether the associations are stronger for subjectively-measured than for objectively-measured financial resources among older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: We relied on the latest four waves of data of a China nationally representative survey with 25,954 community-residing respondents in 2005-2014. Self-perceived uselessness was classified into four categories: high, moderate, and low frequencies plus unable to answer the question. Financial resources included six objectively- or subjectively-measured variables and two culturally-measured variables. Multinomial logistic models were employed for the purposes, taking the low frequency as the reference category and adjusting for intrapersonal correlation. RESULTS: Better financial resources, either objectively- or subjectively-measured, are associated with lower risk of the high and moderate frequencies of self-perceived uselessness relative to the low frequency in both urban and rural older adults. Subjectively-measured financial resources have more pronounced associations with self-perceived uselessness than objectively-measured financial resources in both urban and rural areas. Upward wealth transfer, one culturally-measured financial factor, is associated with greater relative risk of the high vs. the low frequency in urban areas, but the association is not significant in rural areas. In both urban and rural areas, the downward transfer, another culturally-measured financial factor, is associated with lower relative risk of the high frequency vs. the low frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between financial resources and self-perceived uselessness differ between urban and rural areas. Subjectively-measured financial resources tend to be more strongly associated with self-perceived uselessness.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to address whether associations between financial resources and self-perceived uselessness are different by urban-rural residence and whether the associations are stronger for subjectively-measured than for objectively-measured financial resources among older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: We relied on the latest four waves of data of a China nationally representative survey with 25,954 community-residing respondents in 2005-2014. Self-perceived uselessness was classified into four categories: high, moderate, and low frequencies plus unable to answer the question. Financial resources included six objectively- or subjectively-measured variables and two culturally-measured variables. Multinomial logistic models were employed for the purposes, taking the low frequency as the reference category and adjusting for intrapersonal correlation. RESULTS: Better financial resources, either objectively- or subjectively-measured, are associated with lower risk of the high and moderate frequencies of self-perceived uselessness relative to the low frequency in both urban and rural older adults. Subjectively-measured financial resources have more pronounced associations with self-perceived uselessness than objectively-measured financial resources in both urban and rural areas. Upward wealth transfer, one culturally-measured financial factor, is associated with greater relative risk of the high vs. the low frequency in urban areas, but the association is not significant in rural areas. In both urban and rural areas, the downward transfer, another culturally-measured financial factor, is associated with lower relative risk of the high frequency vs. the low frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between financial resources and self-perceived uselessness differ between urban and rural areas. Subjectively-measured financial resources tend to be more strongly associated with self-perceived uselessness.