Role of intergenerational connections in cognitive aging: Evidence from a Chinese longitudinal study

作者全名："Hu, Shanshan; Ge, Jingjing; Fang, Minglei; Yang, Jingjing"

作者地址："[Hu, Shanshan; Fang, Minglei; Yang, Jingjing] Chongqing Med Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Chongqing, Peoples R China; [Hu, Shanshan; Fang, Minglei; Yang, Jingjing] Chongqing Med Univ, Res Ctr Med & Social Dev, Chongqing, Peoples R China; [Ge, Jingjing] Guizhou Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Coll Humanities & Management, Guiyang, Guizhou, Peoples R China"

通信作者："Yang, JJ (通讯作者)，Chongqing Med Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Chongqing, Peoples R China.; Yang, JJ (通讯作者)，Chongqing Med Univ, Res Ctr Med & Social Dev, Chongqing, Peoples R China."

来源：FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

ESI学科分类：SOCIAL SCIENCES, GENERAL

WOS号：WOS:001304441100001

JCR分区：Q1

影响因子：5.2

年份：2024

卷号：12

期号：　

开始页：　

结束页：　

文献类型：Article

关键词：CHARLS; cross-lagged panel model; intergenerational support; intergenerational connection; cognitive function; longitudinal research; middle-aged and older adult; rural China

摘要："Objective To explore the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults (45-60 years and over 60 years, respectively) and analyze the urban-rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function. Method Based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data (CHARLS), this study conducted ID matching for four waves of data from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Cognitive function was measured via Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m), word recall, and imitation drawing. Using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal research, we constructed the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) with a sample of 1,480 participants to explore the relationship between intergenerational connections and cognitive function. Results This study examines the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged (45-60 years) and older adults (over 60 years) using data from the CHARLS. It identifies urban-rural and sex differences, with notable effects among rural female participants. The frequency of meeting with one child negatively predicts cognitive function (beta = -0.040, p = 0.041), and the frequency of communication with one child positively predicts cognitive function (beta = 0.102, 0.068, 0.041, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, 0.045). Meanwhile, intergenerational connections with multiple children positively predicts cognitive function (beta = 0.044, p = 0.031), (beta = 0.128, 0.084, and 0.056, p < 0.001, 0.001, p = 0.008). There are urban-rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function; additionally, the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function are significant in rural female middle-aged and older adults. Discussion This study proposes the theory of skewed intergenerational support, which suggests that as middle-aged and older adults age, the responsibility for intergenerational support is skewed toward one child. This leads to conflicts between middle-aged and older parents and the child, which further affects cognitive function. In addition, this study put forward the boat-carrying theory of intergenerational relations and ""to hold a bowl of water level"" is the art of dealing with intergenerational relationships."

基金机构："Humanities and Social Sciences Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission [22SKGH059]; Chongqing Youth Innovative Talent Training Young Eagle Program, Chongqing Education Commission [CY220409]"

基金资助正文："The authors express their gratitude to the residents who participated in the CHARLS survey and the National Research Institute of Development of Peking University, the Chinese Center for Social Science Investigation of Peking University, and the Youth League Committee of Peking University who conducted the survey."