Abstract
This study examined how intergenerational exchanges with sons and daughters predicted older parents' likelihood of co-residing with a son prior to death in a rural area of China's Anhui Province. Our investigation drew on theories of contingent co-residence, modernization, and social exchange, conceptualizing co-residence as having practical and symbolic importance in rural Chinese culture. The sample included 470 older parents, reported as deceased during 2001-2009, and their posthumous informants. We used logistic regression to assess intergenerational support and cohesion as predictors of co-residence with a son just prior to death. Older parents who provided instrumental support to, and received instrumental support from, sons and had better emotional relationships with sons were more likely than their counterparts to co-reside with a son at the end of life. Living with sons demonstrates filial piety for older parents at the end of life, but its realization is sensitive to intergenerational transactions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 331-341 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Canadian Journal on Aging |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 6 2015 |
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Keywords
- aging
- aging families
- Chinese families
- co-residence
- intergenerational support
- living arrangements
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Gerontology
- Community and Home Care
- Health(social science)
Cite this
End-of-Life Co-residence of Older Parents and Their Sons in Rural China. / Cong, Zhen; Silverstein, Merril D.
In: Canadian Journal on Aging, Vol. 34, No. 3, 06.05.2015, p. 331-341.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - End-of-Life Co-residence of Older Parents and Their Sons in Rural China
AU - Cong, Zhen
AU - Silverstein, Merril D
PY - 2015/5/6
Y1 - 2015/5/6
N2 - This study examined how intergenerational exchanges with sons and daughters predicted older parents' likelihood of co-residing with a son prior to death in a rural area of China's Anhui Province. Our investigation drew on theories of contingent co-residence, modernization, and social exchange, conceptualizing co-residence as having practical and symbolic importance in rural Chinese culture. The sample included 470 older parents, reported as deceased during 2001-2009, and their posthumous informants. We used logistic regression to assess intergenerational support and cohesion as predictors of co-residence with a son just prior to death. Older parents who provided instrumental support to, and received instrumental support from, sons and had better emotional relationships with sons were more likely than their counterparts to co-reside with a son at the end of life. Living with sons demonstrates filial piety for older parents at the end of life, but its realization is sensitive to intergenerational transactions.
AB - This study examined how intergenerational exchanges with sons and daughters predicted older parents' likelihood of co-residing with a son prior to death in a rural area of China's Anhui Province. Our investigation drew on theories of contingent co-residence, modernization, and social exchange, conceptualizing co-residence as having practical and symbolic importance in rural Chinese culture. The sample included 470 older parents, reported as deceased during 2001-2009, and their posthumous informants. We used logistic regression to assess intergenerational support and cohesion as predictors of co-residence with a son just prior to death. Older parents who provided instrumental support to, and received instrumental support from, sons and had better emotional relationships with sons were more likely than their counterparts to co-reside with a son at the end of life. Living with sons demonstrates filial piety for older parents at the end of life, but its realization is sensitive to intergenerational transactions.
KW - aging
KW - aging families
KW - Chinese families
KW - co-residence
KW - intergenerational support
KW - living arrangements
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940447782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84940447782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0714980815000227
DO - 10.1017/S0714980815000227
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 331
EP - 341
JO - Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissment/Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de Politiques
JF - Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissment/Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de Politiques
SN - 0714-9808
IS - 3
ER -