School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Front Public Health. 2024 Aug 21;12:1396620. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1396620. eCollection 2024.
To explore the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults (45-60 years and over 60 years, respectively) and analyze the urban-rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function.
Based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data (CHARLS), this study conducted ID matching for four waves of data from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Cognitive function was measured via Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m), word recall, and imitation drawing. Using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal research, we constructed the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) with a sample of 1,480 participants to explore the relationship between intergenerational connections and cognitive function.
This study examines the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged (45-60 years) and older adults (over 60 years) using data from the CHARLS. It identifies urban-rural and sex differences, with notable effects among rural female participants. The frequency of meeting with one child negatively predicts cognitive function ( = -0.040, = 0.041), and the frequency of communication with one child positively predicts cognitive function ( = 0.102, 0.068, 0.041, < 0.001, = 0.001, 0.045). Meanwhile, intergenerational connections with multiple children positively predicts cognitive function ( = 0.044, = 0.031), ( = 0.128, 0.084, and 0.056, < 0.001, 0.001, = 0.008). There are urban-rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function; additionally, the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function are significant in rural female middle-aged and older adults.
This study proposes the theory of skewed intergenerational support, which suggests that as middle-aged and older adults age, the responsibility for intergenerational support is skewed toward one child. This leads to conflicts between middle-aged and older parents and the child, which further affects cognitive function. In addition, this study put forward the boat-carrying theory of intergenerational relations and "to hold a bowl of water level" is the art of dealing with intergenerational relationships.
探讨代际联系对中年和老年（分别为 45-60 岁和 60 岁以上）人群认知功能的影响，并分析代际联系对认知功能影响的城乡和性别差异。
本研究基于中国健康与退休纵向研究（CHARLS）数据，对 2011、2013、2015 和 2018 年的四波数据进行 ID 匹配。认知功能通过电话访谈认知状态修正版（TICS-m）、单词回忆和模仿绘画进行测量。本研究采用横断面和纵向研究相结合的方法，对 1480 名参与者进行交叉滞后面板模型（CLPM）构建，以探讨代际联系与认知功能之间的关系。
本研究利用 CHARLS 数据，探讨了代际联系对中年（45-60 岁）和老年（60 岁以上）人群认知功能的影响。研究发现城乡和性别差异，农村女性参与者的影响较为显著。与一个孩子的见面频率负向预测认知功能（ = -0.040， = 0.041），与一个孩子的沟通频率正向预测认知功能（ = 0.102，0.068，0.041， < 0.001， = 0.001，0.045）。同时，与多个孩子的代际联系正向预测认知功能（ = 0.044， = 0.031），（ = 0.128，0.084，和 0.056， < 0.001，0.001， = 0.008）。代际联系对认知功能的影响存在城乡和性别差异，并且代际联系对农村中年和老年女性认知功能的影响显著。
本研究提出了倾斜代际支持理论，该理论认为，随着中年和老年人年龄的增长，代际支持的责任向一个孩子倾斜。这导致中年和老年父母与孩子之间产生冲突，进而影响认知功能。此外，本研究提出了代际关系的船载理论和“端平一碗水”是处理代际关系的艺术。
