Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coresidence With Elderly Parents in Contemporary China: The Role of Filial Piety, Reciprocity, Socioeconomic Resources, and Parental Needs

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines how adult children’s expressed filial piety, receipt of help from parents, socioeconomic resources, and parents’ needs are associated with the likelihood of parent–child coresidence in contemporary China. Drawing on the 2002 wave of the Chinese Survey of Family Dynamics and the 2002 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, we used logistic regression to analyze correlates of coresidence with parents of 3,938 married adult children, aged 35 to 65. Results show that the stronger the filial piety expressed by adult children, the higher their likelihood of coresiding with their parents. Married adult children are also more likely to coreside with elderly parents who have provided intensive grandchild care and financial support or with those who need financial, physical, and emotional support. However, adult children who own homes are significantly less likely to live with their parents than are those who do not. These findings suggest that coresidence in contemporary China is influenced not only by parents’ needs but also by children’s values, socioeconomic resources, and past receipt of parental help.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aboderin, I. (2004). Modernisation and ageing theory revisited: Current explanations of recent developing world and historical Western shifts in material family support for older people. Ageing and Society, 24, 29–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1974). A theory of social interactions. Journal of Political Economy, 82, 1063–1093.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtson, V. L., & Oyama, P. S. (2010). Intergenerational solidarity and conflict: What does it mean and what are the big issues? In M. A. Cruz-Saco & S. Zelenev (Eds.), Intergenerational solidarity: Strengthening economic and social ties (pp. 35–52). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengtson, V. L., & Roberts, R. E. L. (1991). Intergenerational solidarity in aging families: An example of formal theory construction. Journal of Marriage and Family, 53, 856–870.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell, N. L., & Kusch, K. (2007). The gendered nature of filial piety: A study among Chinese Canadians. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 22, 29–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. (2003). The effect of parental investment on old age support in urban China. In M. K. Whyte (Ed.), China's revolutions and parent–child relations (pp. 197–221). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, F. (2005). Residential patterns of parents and their married children in contemporary China: A life course approach. Population Research and Policy Review, 24, 125–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, C. Y. C., Xie, Y., & Yu, R. R. (2011). Coresidence with elderly parents: A comparative study of southeast China and Taiwan. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(1), 120–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooney, R. S., & Shi, J. (1999). Household extension of the elderly in China, 1987. Population Research and Policy Review, 18, 451––471.

  • Deutsch, F. M. (2006). Filial piety, patrilineality, and China's one-child policy. Journal of Family Issues, 27, 366–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, Z., Guan, X., Feng, X., Liu, C., Zhan, H., & Mor, V. (2014). Long-term care in China: Reining in market forces through regulatory oversight. In V. Mor, T. Leone, & A. Maresso (Eds.), Regulating long term care quality: An international comparison (pp. 409–443). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberg, E., Lillard, L., & Willis, R. (2002). Patterns of intergenerational transfers in Southeast Asia. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 627–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu, D. (2008). General data quality assessment of the CLHLS. In Y. Zeng, D. L. Poston, D.A. Vlosky, & D. Gu. (Eds.), Healthy longevity in China: Demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological dimensions (pp. 39–59). Netherlands: Springer Dordrecht.

  • Gu, D., Vlosky, A. D., & Zeng, Y. (2009). Gender differentials in transitions and expected years spending in seven living arrangements among the oldest-old in China: A population-based decrement-increment life table analysis. In H. T. Benninghouse & A. G. Rosset (Eds.), Women and aging: New research (pp. 539–575). New York: Nova Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannum, E. (1999). Political change and the urban–rural gap in basic education in China. Comparative Education Review, 43(2), 193–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hannum, E., Behrman, J., Wang, M., & Liu, J. (2008). Education in the Reform Era. In L. Brandt & T. G. Rawski (Eds.), China’s Great Economic Transformation. New York: Cambridge University Press.

  • Hermalin, A. I. (2002). Theoretical perspectives, measurement issues, and related research. In A. I. Hermalin (Ed.), The well-being of the elderly in Asia (pp. 101–141). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikels, C. (2004). Filial piety: Practice and discourse in contemporary East Asia. Stanford, Calif. Stanford University Press.

  • Korinek, K., Zimmer, Z., & Gu, D. (2011). Transitions in marital status and functional health and patterns of intergenerational coresidence among China’s elderly population. Journal of Gerontology: Social Science, 66B, 260–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-J., Parish, W. L., & Willis, R. J. (1994). Sons, daughters and intergenerational support in Taiwan. American Journal of Sociology, 99, 1010–1041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, S., Feldman, M. W., & Jin, X. (2004). Children, marriage form, and family support for the elderly in contemporary rural China. Research on Aging, 26, 352–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., & Tracy, M. B. (1999). Family support, financial needs, and health care needs of rural elderly in China: A field study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 15(4), 357–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lillard, L. A., & Willis, R. (1997). Motives for intergenerational transfers: Evidence from Malaysia. Demography, 34, 115–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, I.-F., Goldman, N., Weinstein, M., Lin, Y.-H., Gorrindo, T., & Seeman, T. (2003). Gender differences in adult children’s support of their parents in Taiwan. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 184–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, M. (2008, March 8). Playing with the old blood rules. Newsweek [on-line]. Available: http://www.newsweek.com/2008/03/08/playing-with-the-old-blood-rules.html

  • Liu, J. Y., Guo, M., & Bern-Klug, M. (2013). Economic stress among adult-children caregivers of the oldest old in China: The importance of contextual factors. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 28, 465–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. R., & Bian, F. Q. (1999). Family values and coresidence with married children in urban China. Social Forces, 77, 1253–1282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. R., Bian, F. Q., & Bian, Y. J. (1998). Tradition and change in the urban Chinese family: The case of living arrangements. Social Forces, 76, 851–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Q. (2009). Financial resources, living arrangements and private transfers (Doctoral dissertation, Pardee RAND Graduate School). Retrieved from -- http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD241.html/

  • Mao, W., & Chi, I. (2011). Filial piety of children as perceived by aging parents in China. International Journal of Social Welfare, 20, S99–S108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C. (1994). Psychological theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren, X., & Treiman, D. J. (2014). Living arrangements of the elderly in China and consequences for their emotional well-being. PSC Research Report No. 14–814. University of Michigan.

  • Sereny, M., & Gu, D. (2011). Living arrangement concordance and its association with self-rated health among institutionalized and community-residing elderly people in China. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 26, 239–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sereny, M. (2011). Living arrangements of older adults in China: The interplay among preferences, realities, and health. Research on Aging, 33(2), 172–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M., Gans, D., & Yang, F. M. (2006). Intergenerational support to aging parents: The role of norms and needs. Journal of Family Issues, 27(8), 1068–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M., Cong, Z., & Li, S. (2007). Grandparents who care for their grandchildren in rural China: Benefactors and beneficiaries. In I. G. Cook & J. L. Powell (Eds.), New perspectives on China and aging (pp. 49–71). New York: Nova Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A. L., Hays, R. D., & Ware, J. E. (1992). Methods of constructing health measure. In A. L. Stewart & J. E. Ware (Eds.), Measuring function and well-being—The medical outcome study approach (pp. 67–85). Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treas, J., & Chen, J. M. (2000). Living arrangements, income pooling, and the life course in urban Chinese families. Research on Aging, 22, 238–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division. (2013). The world population prospects: the 2012 revision. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whyte, M. K. (2004). Filial obligations in Chinese families: Paradoxes of modernization. In C. Ikels (Ed.), Filial piety: Practice and discourse in contemporary East Asia (pp. 106–127). Stanford: Stanford University Press.

  • Xie, Y., & Zhu, H. (2009). Do sons or daughters give more money to parents in urban China? Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 174–186.

  • Yang, K.-S., Yeh, K.-H., & Hwang, L.-L. (1989). A social attitudinal analysis of Chinese filial piety: Concepts and assessment. Bulletin of the Institute of Ethnology. Academia Sinica, 56, 171–227. (In Chinese.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, H. (1996). The distributive norm of monetary support to older parents: A look at a township in China. Journal of Marriage and Family, 58, 404–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, K.-H., & Bedford, O. (2004). Filial belief and parent–child conflict. International Journal of Psychology, 39, 132–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, Y. (2008). Introduction to the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. In Y. Zeng, D. L. Poston, D. A. Vlosky, & D. Gu (Eds.), Healthy longevity in China: Demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological dimensions (pp. 23–37). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, Y., & Wang, Z. (2003). Dynamics of family and elderly living arrangements in China: New lessons learned from the 2000 census. The China Review, 3, 95–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhan, H. (2004). Willingness and expectations: Intergenerational differences in attitudes toward filial responsibility in China. Marriage and Family Review, 36, 175–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhan, H. J., Feng, X., & Luo, B. (2008). Placing elderly parents in institutions in urban China: A reinterpretation of filial piety. Research on Aging, 30(5), 543–571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q. F. (2004a). Economic transition and new patterns of parent-adult child coresidence in urban China. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 1231–1245.

  • Zhang, Z. (2004b). The effect of caregiving from children on health status of the elderly Protection or selection (pp. 29–36). Special Issue: Journal of Population Science [in Chinese].

  • Zimmer, Z., & Kwong, J. (2003). Family size and support of older adults in urban and rural China: Current effects and future implications. Demography, 40(1), 23–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, Z. (2005). Health and living arrangement transitions among China's oldest-old. Research on Aging, 27, 526–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer, Z., Kwong, J., Fang, X., Kaneda, T., & Tang, Z. (2007). Child coresidence among older adults in Beijing, China: Trends, determinants and transitions. In I. Cook & J. Powell (Eds.), New perspectives on China and aging (pp. 5–28). New York: Nova Science.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This article is based on a publicly available dataset of the elderly population derived from an ongoing project of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) (PI: Yi Zeng), which is jointly supported by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA/NIH grants R01 AG023627-01), the China National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC), the China Social Sciences Foundation, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, Chinese Ministry of Education, and Peking University 211 Program. The 2002 wave of the Chinese Survey of Family Dynamics (CSFD) was supported by Academy Sinica in Taiwan and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in mainland China. We thank the CLHLS team to provide us access to the datasets. This research was supported in part by an NICHD center grant to the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan (R24 HD041028).

Disclaimer

Danan Gu’s work was mainly done when he was at Duke University and Portland State University. He is currently working at the United Nations. The views expressed in the paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan State University, Duke University, Portland State University, the United Nations, or Clemson University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

    Zhenmei Zhang

  2. Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA

    Danan Gu

  3. Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA

    Ye Luo

Authors
  1. Zhenmei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Danan Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ye Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhenmei Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Z., Gu, D. & Luo, Y. Coresidence With Elderly Parents in Contemporary China: The Role of Filial Piety, Reciprocity, Socioeconomic Resources, and Parental Needs. J Cross Cult Gerontol 29, 259–276 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-014-9239-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-014-9239-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation