Zhang Wei, Feng Qiushi, Liu Lin, Zhen Zhihong
Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2015 Apr;80(4):332-56. doi: 10.1177/0091415015603173. Epub 2015 Sep 2.
What are the social factors that matter most to the health of elderly Chinese? Are there any gender and age differences? Using a representative sample of elderly Chinese in Shanghai, the most developed city in China with the nation's largest proportion of elderly residents, this study found that economic conditions, chronic health status, living arrangements, social activity participation, and caring for grandchildren are factors that are most important to the health of elderly Chinese. This is true for both self-rated health and psychological well-being. The beneficial effects of participation in social activities are particularly salient for elderly women and for the old-old, whereas the salutary effects of caring for grandchildren are more substantial for elderly men and for the young-old. Our findings suggest the importance of social engagement in promoting health and successful aging of elderly Chinese and disclose the moderating roles of gender and age in this focal relationship.
对中国老年人健康最重要的社会因素有哪些？是否存在性别和年龄差异？本研究以上海具有代表性的中国老年人为样本，上海是中国最发达的城市，老年居民比例全国最高。研究发现，经济状况、慢性健康状况、生活安排、社会活动参与以及照顾孙辈是对中国老年人健康最重要的因素。这在自评健康和心理健康方面均成立。参与社会活动的有益影响对老年女性和高龄老人尤为显著，而照顾孙辈的有益影响对老年男性和低龄老人更为显著。我们的研究结果表明社会参与对促进中国老年人健康和成功老龄化的重要性，并揭示了性别和年龄在这一核心关系中的调节作用。
