中国老年人老化年龄认同与就业选择

Old Age Identity and Employment Choice of the Elderly in China

随着预期寿命的延长,中国老年人老化年龄认同(老年何时开始的自我认知)与社会界定的老年人起点年龄存在较大差异,基于社会界定的年龄标准预测个体经济行为与制定经济政策的传统范式正面临新的挑战。本文使用中国老年社会追踪调查(CLASS)数据,重点研究老化年龄认同对老年人就业选择的影响效应、作用机制及提升策略。结论如下:(1)中国老年人老化年龄认同平均为70岁,延后的老化年龄认同是老年人对于衰老的否定,有助于提升就业可能性,否认变老的老年人群体选择就业的概率比承认变老的老年人群体显著高出2.4%。(2)相比承认变老的老年人群体,“年轻的”否认变老的老年人群体更可能强化行为延续效应,即延续中年时期行为规范,保持工作连续性,也会提高社会参与意愿,并通过提升自尊与积极应对困难增强就业信心程度。(3)老化年龄认同超过70岁、老年标志性事件为不工作、外部环境特别是家庭代际支持的压力,上述因素有助于激发老化年龄认同对老年人就业选择的积极影响。(4)随着养老金收入的增加,老化年龄认同对老年人就业选择的影响依然显著,但这种影响存在显著性别差异,老化年龄认同对老年女性就业选择的影响不显著。

With the extension of life expectancy,there is a big difference between the old age identity(self-cognition of when old age starts)and the socially designated starting age of the elderly in China.The traditional model of predicting individual economic behavior and making economic policies based on the socially defined age criteria is facing new challenges.Using the data of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey(CLASS),this paper focuses on the influence,mechanism and promotion strategy of old age identity on the employment choice of the elderly.Conclusions are as follows:(1)The average old age identity of the elderly in China is 70 years old.The delayed old age identity is the denial of aging by the elderly,which helps to improve the probability of employment.Those who deny getting old are 2.4%more likely to choose employment than those who admit getting old.(2)Compared with the elderly who admit getting old,the“young”elderly who deny getting old are more likely to strengthen the behavioral continuation effect,that is,to continue the behavioral norms in the middle age and maintain the continuity of work,improve the willingness of social participation,and enhance the degree of employment confidence by improving self-esteem and actively coping with difficulties.(3)Old age identity over 70 years old,the landmark event of aging is not working,and the external environment,especially the family intergenerational support pressure,can stimulate the positive influence of old age identity on the employment choice of the elderly.(4)With the increase of pension income,the influence of old age identity on the employment choice of the elderly is still significant but with a significant gender difference,and the influence of old age identity on the employment choice of the elderly women is not significant.