Page 107 - IJPS-3-1

Zhang Z and Lin I-F

transfers, with a few exceptions. Specifically, the likelihood of receiving financial
support from children decreased significantly with the receipt of a pension, controlling
for the number of sons, the number of daughters, the number of children living nearby,
widow’s marital history, living arrangements, and other covariates (0.20). When we
looked at the amount of financial support received among those who had positive net
transfers, those with a pension on average received less money from their children
than those without a pension (-0.10). The number of ADL limitations was positively
associated with the amount of money received by the widowed (0.05). Surprisingly,
widowed older adults who had received some schooling received a greater amount
of financial assistance from their children than their counterparts without formal
education (0.18).
In terms of sick care, the pattern is more complex. Consistent with the needs-based
model, those with a pension were less likely to receive care from children (0.73).
However, the odds of having children as caregivers also decreased significantly with
each additional increase in ADL limitations, after controlling for living arrangements
and other covariates (0.76). This suggests that when older adults have multiple ADL
limitations, outside helpers (e.g., domestic workers or other relatives) may be hired to
care for them.
As for emotional support, there were no statistically significant associations between
the widowed older adults’ financial conditions and the odds of receiving emotional
support. Nevertheless, the number of ADL limitations was inversely associated with
the odds of naming children as confidants (0.95).
Table 2. Logistic, OLS, and multinomial regression results of intergenerational support among widowed Chinese ages 65 and older
(CLHLS, 2002)

Financial Amount of Sick Emotional Living with Living in
financial
nursing homes
children vs.
support a transfer b care a support a alone a vs. alone a
Widowed older adults’ needs
Received schooling 1.08 0.18 ** 0.85 0.91 0.95 1.10
Having pension 0.20 ** −0.10 * 0.73 * 1.12 0.89 1.23
ADL limitations 1.02 0.05 ** 0.76 ** 0.95 ** 1.19 ** 1.21 **
Child’s gender and number of children
Number of sons 1.43 ** 0.15 ** 1.14 ** 1.15 ** 1.05 † 0.70 **
Number of daughters 1.24 ** 0.14 ** 1.06 1.14 ** 1.27 ** 0.89 *
Children living nearby 0.93 ** −0.04 ** 1.29 ** 1.05 * 0.79 ** 0.76 **
Marital history
Married twice or more 0.76 * −0.17 ** 0.71 ** 0.70 ** 0.87 1.06
Control variables
Living alone/with others ref ref ref ref
Living in nursing homes 0.74 * 0.34 ** 0.09 ** 0.17 **
Living with children 1.55 ** −0.10 ** 21.07 ** 4.87 **
Age 1.00 0.005 ** 1.00 1.02 ** 1.03 ** 1.00
Female 1.21† 0.07* 0.99 1.05 1.20 ** 1.00
Rural 0.97 −0.59 ** 1.36 ** 1.02 1.09 0.59 **
Han 0.93 0.21 ** 1.18 0.68 ** 0.50 ** 1.08
N 10,511 8,333 10,511 10,511 10,511 10,511
Notes: OLS = ordinary least square
a Odds ratios are reported
b We used OLS regression to estimate the correlates of the amount of net financial transfer received by the widowed Chinese from their children and
children-in-law. The analytic sample includes those who had at least one child and received positive financial transfers from children and children-in-
†
*
**
law. p < 0.10. p < 0.05. p < 0.01.
International Journal of Population Studies 2017, Volume 3, Issue 1 101