Abstract
ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the mediation role of satisfaction with children on the association between contact with children (CCT) and healthy aging among middle-aged and older parents in China.MethodsData from 9,575 parents over 45 years old were obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. A multinomial logistic regression model was applied to measure the association between contact, satisfaction, and healthy aging with potential confounders controlled. We used the Sobel–Goodman Mediation test to analyze the mediation role of satisfaction on the association between types of CCT and healthy aging.ResultsParents with contact with adult children had higher satisfaction with children [for contact weekly (satisfied/unsatisfied): relative risk ratio (RRR) = 2.44, CI = 1.92–3.10] and higher healthy aging [for contact weekly (Q5/Q1): RRR = 1.41, CI = 1.13–1.77]. Satisfaction was strongly related to healthy aging [for satisfied (Q5/Q1): RRR = 3.44, CI = 2.14–5.51], and mediated 19.05% of healthy aging for weekly contact (Sobel test z = 4.338; indirect role = 0.014, CI = 0.011–0.018; direct role = 0.061, CI = 0.029–0.094). Subgroup analysis further revealed that satisfaction with contact played a partial mediating role between monthly contact and healthy aging in female and rural groups.ConclusionsMonthly CCT is more appropriate for older parents. Satisfaction with children in older parents seems to act as a significant and partial mediator of the relationship between contact and healthy aging. The contribution of satisfaction to healthy aging could be important to be considered and promoted in women and rural older parents, independent of CCT.
Highlights
China’s population is rapidly aging; by 2050, there will be nearly 400 million Chinese citizens aged 65 years old or older, 150 million of whom will be 80 years old or older [1]
This study aims to examine the mediation role of satisfaction with the relationship with children (CSF) on the association between contact with children (CCT) and the Healthy Aging Index (HAI) among middle-aged and older parents in China
Relative risk ratio (RRR), relative risk ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence intervals; CSF, Satisfaction with the relationship with children; CCT, contact with children; HAI, healthy aging Index
Summary
China’s population is rapidly aging; by 2050, there will be nearly 400 million Chinese citizens aged 65 years old or older, 150 million of whom will be 80 years old or older [1]. Demographic changes, economic reforms, and modernization in China have been remarkable, but the attendant social and work pressures have weakened the ability of families to support older family members. These circumstances may challenge China’s response to population aging. Support from adult children is one of the most important family resources related to parents’ ability to adapt to functional decline [5]. As interactions with adult children seem to predict satisfaction with family relationships and adaptation to functional decline, there is a strong need to examine whether health aging in middle-aged and older parents could be managed more effectively under the influence of strong contact with adult children as well as satisfaction with their relationships with their children
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