Page 102 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Health disparities and older adults well-being in China

statistically significant positive effects on physical health higher education, the chances of receiving education have
and mental health, but not on cognitive health. Based greatly improved compared to 50 years ago. As a result, we
on these empirical results, we can argue that there are anticipate a reduction in the number of older-aged people
no apparent regional differences in dementia prevalence with dementia due to low education levels in the future.
among the older ages in China. Second, when considering household location, the
4. Concluding remarks urban-rural divide remains one of the most significant
challenges in Chinese society. Even within the same
In this study, we used the micro-level data obtained provinces, substantial disparities persist between urban
from the fourth wave of the CHARLS to investigate the and rural areas across various dimensions, including
impact of socioeconomic status on the health of older education, income, medical care, and old-age care. Urban
adults in China. Our results reveal that several variables residents with urban household registrations tend to
representing socioeconomic status, such as education level, benefit from better education since childhood, increased
place of residence, household registration type, and party job opportunities, higher income, and access to abundant,
membership, have statistically significant positive effects high-quality medical and nursing care. Therefore, the
on their health status, especially mental and cognitive health status of Chinese living in cities tends to be better
health. However, when it comes to physical health, we did than that of their rural counterparts. Given the ongoing
not find a statistically significant effect of socioeconomic population aging and labor shortage, rural economic
status on the older people’s ADLs indicator. Considering development has become increasingly important.
that different age groups have different experiences leading Prioritizing local infrastructure construction and easing
to their present socioeconomic status, and socioeconomic household registration restrictions to facilitate residents’
status has cumulative and continuous effects throughout motility are essential steps for the Chinese government.
their life cycle, it is reasonable to assume that older-aged Narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas not only
health is influenced by socioeconomic status. While the improves the health of rural residents but also improves
resource advantages associated with higher socioeconomic the health status of the older adults.
status can accumulate, we also observed that the Third, considering the distinctive identity associated
disadvantages faced by those with low socioeconomic status with Chinese society, our empirical results suggest that
accumulate over time. Health inequalities among the older middle-aged and older-aged people who are members of
adults are not solely related to current social stratification; the Communist Party of China usually exhibit excellent
early-life experiences also play a crucial role. This article mental and cognitive health, along with positive IADLs
explores the cumulative effects of early-life socioeconomic indicators. Compared to the general population, party
states and verifies their existence in Chinese society. Over members enjoy a higher socioeconomic status and tend to
time, socioeconomic status inequalities among the older benefit from quality social welfare even after retirement.
adults exacerbate health status inequalities.
Therefore, we recommend that the Chinese government
After 3 years of the pandemic in China, the post-COVID expand the scope of services within the social welfare
economy is in recession, the population is aging, and the system to include disabled individuals and those living in
population is starting to decline. Within the constraints of poverty. In addition, strengthening government transfers
limited resources, the challenge lies in fairly distributing and wealth distribution mechanisms will contribute to
output and improving the welfare of the majority. Drawing overall improvements in the social welfare system.
from our empirical results on health inequality among Finally, China has recently entered the phase of an
the Chinese older people, we offer a few thoughts and aged society last year, with the average age in the data,
suggestions.
we used being 67.9 years old. Population aging is not yet
First, in terms of education level, the middle-aged and severe, and the health condition of the older adults is
older-aged population (over 55 years old) in this study relatively good, as indicated by the healthy ratio of 0.174
were all born before 1963 and lived through the Cultural (Figure 9). Policymakers should proactively establish
Revolution in China. During that tumultuous period, most several institutions to provide long-term care services
young people missed out on educational opportunities or for the older persons living in rural areas, where medical
were unable to pursue higher education due to the 10-year resources are insufficient. We emphasize that the Chinese
upheaval of the Cultural Revolution. Therefore, the government needs to accelerate efforts to narrow the gap
prevalence of dementia in old age is relatively high within between urban and rural areas, increase the transfer of
this generation. However, given the popularity of education social resources, and drastically reform the social security
in China today and the increased rate of admission to system. By focusing on a long-term, sustainable, yet

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 96 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2035