The Impact of Intergenerational Caregiving on the Mental Health of Older Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54691/qnr5t079Keywords:
Intergenerational Care; The Elderly; Mental Health; Population Aging.Abstract
Against the backdrop of accelerating population aging and total fertility rates dropping below the warning line, intergenerational care, as a crucial form of intergenerational support, requires a scientific assessment of its social impacts. Based on data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study comprehensively employs an instrumental variable approach to systematically reveal the mechanisms and heterogeneous characteristics through which intergenerational care influences the mental health of the elderly. The findings are as follows: (1) Intergenerational care significantly improves the mental health of the elderly; (2) Female caregivers have better mental health, and rural elderly have better mental health than urban elderly; (3) Intergenerational care not only directly affects the mental health of the elderly but also reduces their depression levels by increasing economic and emotional support. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the pension system and establish social welfare subsidies for the elderly, promote community mutual assistance activities, and encourage community organizations and emotional exchanges to alleviate the impact differences and crowding-out effects brought about by intergenerational care.
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