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Grandparenting and Well-Being of the Elderly in China

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Luo

    (Guangdong University of Technology)

  • Jan Fidrmuc

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Hao Wang

    (Shenzhen University [Shenzhen])

Abstract
Grandparenting duties can affect the well-being of the elderly both positively and negatively. This paper disentangles the interactions between grandparenting, quality of life, and life satisfaction in China. Using a panel dataset of 3205 respondents in three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, 2013, and 2015, we find that grandparents who look after grandchildren are less at risk of depression, receive more financial and in-kind transfers from their children, and report greater life satisfaction than grandparents who do not look after grandchildren. These benefits vary across gender and rural-urban status, however. The positive effect of grandparenting is driven mainly by the direct effect with negligible mediating effect attributable to better quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Luo & Jan Fidrmuc & Hao Wang, 2022. "Grandparenting and Well-Being of the Elderly in China," Post-Print hal-03969508, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03969508
    DOI: 10.1177/0192513X221127024
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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