Yue Wu1, Wanyue Dong2, Yongjian Xu1, Xiaojing Fan2, Min Su1, Jianmin Gao3, Zhongliang Zhou1, Louis Niessen4, Yiyang Wang5, Xiao Wang5. 1. School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China. 2. School of Public Health, Center of Medical Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China. 3. School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China. gaojm@xjtu.edu.cn. 4. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK. 5. International Business School Suzhou, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the awareness of mental health problems in late life is rising, the association between financial transfers to the older generations from children and mental health at older ages in China has received little attention. This study examines the association between financial transfers from children and depressive symptoms among the mid-aged and elderly residents (from 45 years of age and older) in China. METHODS: We used the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2013) (n = 10,935) This included data on financial transfers from all non-co-resident children to their parents, and the individual scores on depressive symptoms as measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CESD-10). A two-level - individual and community levels - mixed linear model was deployed to explore their association. RESULTS: Financial transfers from children to parents was the major component of inter-generational financial transfers in Chinese families. A higher financial support from non-co-resident children was signivicantly and positively related to fewer depressive symptoms (coef. = - 0.195,P-value< 0.001) among both the mid-aged and elderly parents. CONCLUSIONS: Financial transfers from non-co-resident children are associated with depressive symptoms among mid-aged and elderly residents in the China situation. Taxation and other policy measures should encourage and facilitate these type of financial transfers and prevent a decrease of support from children to parents.
BACKGROUND: Although the awareness of mental health problems in late life is rising, the association between financial transfers to the older generations from children and mental health at older ages in China has received little attention. This study examines the association between financial transfers from children and depressive symptoms among the mid-aged and elderly residents (from 45 years of age and older) in China. METHODS: We used the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2013) (n = 10,935) This included data on financial transfers from all non-co-resident children to their parents, and the individual scores on depressive symptoms as measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CESD-10). A two-level - individual and community levels - mixed linear model was deployed to explore their association. RESULTS: Financial transfers from children to parents was the major component of inter-generational financial transfers in Chinese families. A higher financial support from non-co-resident children was signivicantly and positively related to fewer depressive symptoms (coef. = - 0.195,P-value< 0.001) among both the mid-aged and elderly parents. CONCLUSIONS: Financial transfers from non-co-resident children are associated with depressive symptoms among mid-aged and elderly residents in the China situation. Taxation and other policy measures should encourage and facilitate these type of financial transfers and prevent a decrease of support from children to parents.
Entities:
Keywords:
CHARLS; China; Depressive symptoms; Inter-generational transfer; Mid-aged and elderly residents; Multilevel model
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