The Impact of Grandchild-caring on Grandparents' Cognitive Functioning in Rural China: A study based on the 2001-2012 longitudinal surveys

本文利用西安交通大学人口与发展研究所2001-2012年间进行的“安徽省老年人生活福利状况”纵贯调查的数据来构建多层曲线增长模型,研究在当代中国农村社会和人口变迁下照料孙子女对祖父母认知功能发展轨迹的影响。研究结果显示,高强度照料比低强度照料对祖父母认知功能的保护作用更大,但高强度照料的影响以祖父母的年龄和性别为条件。其中高强度照料对祖父认知衰退有明显保护作用,而祖母的认知功能则受损更大,且这种性别差异随年龄增长有进一步扩大的趋势。上述发现支持了“用进废退”的老年活动理论,并揭示了中国农村家庭中性别角色和规范的重要性。

Using data from "the well-being of elderly in Anhui province" survey conducted in 2001, 2003 , 2006 , 2009 and 2012 respectively, this study examines the impact of grandchild-caring on rural grandparents' cognitive functioning through constructing multi-level growth curve model. The results show that, compared to low intensity care for grandchildren, high intensity care has protective effect on the grandparents1 cognitive aging, however, the effects of high intensity care depend on the age and gender of grandparents. The grandfathers' cognitive aging is protected by the high intensity care for grandchildren, while the cognitive functioning of grandmothers suffers from the high intensity care; and the gender difference tends to be widened with aging. These results support the hypothesis "use it or lose it", and imply the significance of gender role and norm in the Chinese rural families.

宋璐 李亮 李树茁

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