The effects of intergenerational support on the changes in cognitive functioning of the rural elderly in China

Abstract

A major issue in all societies, especially those that are ageing, is the extent to which the elderly can live independently. Cognitive functioning is a crucial factor in the degree of independence of the elderly, while cognitive impairment can predict the loss of functions and even death. There is a close and direct relationship between social support and cognitive functioning, and social support-preventable cognitive impairment (Bassuk and Berkman, 1999). A recent cross-sectional study demonstrated that intergenerational support improved the cognitive functioning of the elderly in rural China (Wang, Li and Zhang, 2005). However, within the context of high levels of migration of working-age adults from rural to urban areas of China, multivariate analysis of longitudinal data on changes in the cognitive functioning of the elderly is required. This article presents an analysis of selected data from a 3-wave longitudinal survey conducted from 2001 to 2006 among 997 parents aged 60 and older living in rural Anhui Province, China, showing that intergenerational transfers, especially financial transfers, have a significant influence on the changes in the cognitive functioning of the elderly. As such, the findings bring a new dimension to the current scientific discussion on the impacts of changing traditional patterns of intergenerational support for elderly persons in China.