Living together with children and elderly: the impact of family structure on the consumption of migrants and residents in urban China

Abstract

Using data from the first wave of the "China Family Dynamic Survey" conducted in 2014, this study compares the impact on consumption of the presence of children or elderly people in migrant households and to that in urban resident households, and then examines the extent to which lack of access to public services might explain the differences in consumption patterns that do exist. The results indicate that migrant households with infants and toddlers increase their consumption of healthcare services, while those with preschool children increase their consumption of educational services. Migrant households with elderly members significantly increase their consumption of healthcare services. The comparison of migrant households with urban resident households shows that there are considerable differences between migrant households and urban resident households in terms of how educational and healthcare expenditures are affected by the presence of children and elderly. The differences grow out of a huge gap in the accessibility of low-cost, subsidized public preschool education and government-funded health insurance programs.Living together with children and elderly: the impact of family… Zhang Jingwen is a graduate student at the School of Sociology and Population Studies of Renmin University of China. Her research interest is related to Maternal and Child health.

Frequency of chronic diseases in elderly age group.

“…Most prevalent diseases in our data were found to be hypertension 69.3% and diabetes 51.50% this is consistent with another study of geriatric individuals conducted internationally. 14 These finding are similar to another study conducted internationally. 17 In our data almost two third of the elders were suffering from hypertension and this finding is consistent with a study conducted in Ethiopia.…”

“…Literacy rate was higher in males (76%) and lower in females (50.8%), this was consistent with another study conducted in Karachi where (70.5%) were found to be lliterate. 14 Many are unable to work and need support from family. Out of 163 individuals 62(38%) were financially dependent and 101(62%) were independent.…”

“…These results are similar to a study conducted internationally where majority of elderly were living with their family. 14 Most of the elderly become debilitated due to the chronic illnesses associated with old age. Most prevalent diseases in our data were found to be hypertension 69.3% and diabetes 51.50% this is consistent with another study of geriatric individuals conducted internationally.…”

“…21 In this study the regular activities include offering prayers 61.4%, socializing 55%, reading 36.3% and watching television 47.3% and these results are consistent with the study conducted in Agha Khan Hospital, Karachi. 14 As the geriatric population is on the rise it's important to address their health and other problems which may contribute in improving their quality of life.…”

An Analysis of the Current and Future Social Support Trajectories and Interventional Dimensions Necessary for the Elderly in Cheshanga, Mberengwa District, Zimbabwe: What will Tomorrow Bring?

“…Families which adopted urban cultures and abandoning their own traditional way of leaving deserted and rejected the elderly. Evidently, young families are no longer finding it feasible at the present time to live with elderly parents in towns because of urban housing conditions which would not allow extended families to stay together as a traditional extended family [73,74]. There is a correlation between loneliness and social relationship among the elderly people in rural area, living in "empty nest syndrome" homes [75].…”