The power of informal institutions:The impact of clan culture on the depression of the elderly in rural China

Exploration of ways to improve the subjective welfare of residents is an important area of current academic research.Using data from the China Family Panel Studies survey conducted in 2010,this paper investigated the impact of clan culture on the mental health of elderly people in rural China.The results demonstrated that clan culture can significantly decrease the depression score of the rural elderly.Further,there was no gender difference with respect to the impact of clan culture on the depression score of the elderly.At the same time,the positive effects of clan culture on the depression score of the elderly have gradually weakened with economic development.Exploration of the mechanisms involved indicated that in areas with stronger clan culture,older people receive more social support.This study enriches our understanding of the impact of informal institutions on the welfare of rural residents.At the same time,it can also provide a certain decisionmaking reference for the government to formulate relative poverty relief strategies in a new stage of poverty alleviation.

Significant Differences in Elderly Health between Urban and Rural Communities: A Literature Review

This study aimed to examine measures pertaining to elderly health in urban versus rural settings, and to identify differences in the health of elderly people living in urban and rural communities through a literature review. An electronic literature search was performed using PubMed for English articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to August 2018, with the following search terms: “urban”, “rural”, “comparison of community”, “elderly health”, and “comparison of community health”. A total of 35 articles were extracted for a critical full-text review, and six articles that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to analysis. Measures related to elderly health in urban and rural communities were classified into the following three categories: functional abilities, health, and health perception. Five of the six articles described functional abilities (e.g., social function) and health (e.g., mental health, depression) as categories with significant differences in elderly health between urban and rural communities. The results suggest that elderly health measures related to social function and mental health or depression are more important outcome measures of effective person-centered integrated community care systems from the perspective of community characteristics. As there were only a few articles reporting on elderly health according to differences in environment between urban and rural communities, further investigation is globally warranted.

Investigation and Countermeasures on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle of the Disabled Elderly in a Rural Area

Objective： To investigate the level of health-promoting lifestyle in the disabled elderly in a rural area and to provide useful countermeasures for health care workers and the government to improve the elderly＇ s lifestyle behaviors. Methods： A total of 446 disabled elderly people were recruited and examined using the General Questionnaire and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Results： The mean score of the health-promoting lifestyle was 109.73（ SD = 16.80）, in which 90.6 percent of the disabled elderly demonstrated unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The average score for each of the subscales includedthe following： interpersonal relations, stress management, nutrition, self-actualization, health responsibility, and sports activity. Conclusions： The health-promoting lifestyle of the disabled elderly needs to be improved; health care workers and the government should pay more attention to the countermeasures that can improve the lifestyle behaviors and promote the health of the disabled elderly.

An Analysis of the Demand for Education for the Elderly in Rural Areas:A Caso Study of the Suburbs of Hangzhou

The education for the elderly is the last link of life-long education and an important part of spiritually providing for the aged.In the context of rural revitalization,this paper chooses the elderly in the suburbs of Hangzhou,an eastern developed city,as the survey object.Through the methods of questionnaire survey and quantitative statistics,this paper analyzes and introduces the basic situation of rural education for the elderly,the demand for participating in education for the elderly,the learning evaluation of education for the elderly and the problems existing in the education for the elderly in rural areas.On this basis,some brief conclusions and discussions are put forward.

Factors associated with active aging in Chinese elderly in rural areas of Xiangtan County,China

Objectives:To explore the level of active aging and correlates among rural elderly in Xiangtan County,China.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to November 2019.A total of 945 rural elderly from 3 towns in Xiangtan County,China,were investigated by using the positive aging evaluation questionnaire(PAEQ),the activity of daily living scale(ADL),and the depression in old-age scale(DIA-S).Results:The average score in the PAEQ among the rural elderly of Xiangtan County was 72.81(range=21-105).A moderate negative correlation was found between the score in the PAEQ and those in the ADL(r=−0.361)and DIA-S(r=−0.495).Symptoms of depression(β:−0.321,P=0.001),number of chronic diseases(β:−0.281,P=0.001),subjective economic status(β:0.239,P=0.001),ADL(β:−0.196,P=0.001),education(β:0.126,P=0.001),number of children(β:0.097,P=0.001),and marital status(β:−0.060,P=0.001)were significantly associated with levels of active aging in rural elderly,whereas gender and age were not independently related to active aging.Conclusions:The level of active aging is at a moderately high level in the Chinese elderly in rural areas in Xiangtan County.The focus group of active aging in rural areas should be elderly people suffering from chronic diseases,physical decline,poor education and economic conditions,childlessness,and those without partners.

Relationship between the Self-Efficacy and Mental Health of Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease in Rural Hebei Province

Objective:To investigate the self-efficacy and mental health of elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)in rural Hebei Province as well as to analyze the relationship between them.Methods:From June 2021 to December 2021,480 elderly patients with CHD from rural areas,who had been discharged by the Department of Cardiology from three tertiary hospitals in three cities with different economic levels in Hebei Province for more than a year,were selected as the research subjects.The general self-efficacy scale(GSES)and symptom self-rating scale(SCL-90)were used to investigate the self-efficacy and mental health of these patients.SPSS 25.0 was used for data analysis.Results:The total mean self-efficacy score of elderly patients with CHD in rural Hebei Province was 17.18±4.68,which is lower than the international norm(t=-32.067,P=0.000)and the national norm(t=-28.783,P=0.000);the total average SCL-90 score was 148.64±55.13,which is higher than the national norm for adults and the reference norm for ordinary elderly people;except for hostility and psychosis,the other dimensions were significantly higher than the national norm for adults(P<0.05);except for psychosis,the other dimensions were significantly higher than the reference norm for ordinary elderly people(P<0.05);the self-efficacy score was found to be negatively correlated with the total SCL-90 score and the score for each dimension(P<0.05).Conclusion:Elderly CHD patients with higher self-efficacy in rural Hebei Province have higher mental health level.It is suggested that the mental health of elderly patients with CHD in rural areas can be improved by improving their self-efficacy.

Reform and Reconstruction of the Rural Elderly Care Service System in the New Era

With decades of hard work,socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era.The transformation of the principal contradiction in the new era has imposed new and higher requirements on the rural elderly care service system.However,the current service system based on welfare-multiplex and urban community environment is often difficult to operate in the rural areas of central and western China.And the urban home care service for the aged is inappropriate to the rural reality;community service for the aged faces difficulties in practice;institution care for the aged develops slowly;the synergy among different elderly care service models is poor.Through observing the rural areas of central and western China in the field for a long time,this paper proposes to build the rural elderly care service system based on family supporting,supported by community mutual assistance care,supplemented by institution care for the aged,combined with medical care,and localized with diversified forms for targeted groups according to different realities.And the system should follow the fundamental guidance of development-oriented family policy,adhere to the governance mode of multiple subjects with one core and respect rural reality,which could provide a feasible way for the reform and reconstruction of the rural elderly care service system.

Dilemma and Path for Rural Mutual Aid Elderly Care Model in Underdeveloped Areas——A Case Study of Dazhou City in Sichuan Province

Rural mutual aid elderly care,as an emerging elderly care model,has become an exploration and attempt to rebuild rural communities in the process of rural social transformation.At present,in the vast underdeveloped rural areas,the rural mutual aid elderly care model is faced with such problems as imperfect policies and regulations,insufficient funds,single service items,lack of professional services,and limited functions of civil organizations.It is necessary to strengthen the formulation and improvement of laws and regulations,and to ensure the stable source of funds,enhance the level of specialization,and give full play to the functions of social organizations in the rural mutual aid elderly care model,so as to promote the sustainable development of the rural mutual aid elderly care model.

Childcare,Elderly Caring and Off-farm Employment of Rural Couples in China

Based on the representative sample survey data of more than 1 000 farmers in 101 villages of 25 counties of 5 provinces in China,within the framework of family collective decision-making,this paper studied the effects and heterogeneity of childcare and elderly caring on the off-farm employment mode of rural couples. It found that caring the children younger than 3 years old significantly reduces the possibility of offfarm employment of rural couples;conversely,if there is 60-80 years old member in the family,it will significantly increase the possibility of off-farm employment of rural couples or the wives. Caring the children above 12 years old or the elderly older than 80 years old reduces the possibility of off-farm employment of the husbands. Whether there is preschool education service facility in the village has no effect on the off-farm employment of the couples.

How to Improve Elderly Care in Rural Areas

While population aging is accelerating across the country,the situation is more acute in rural areas than in cities.According to the seventh national census,conducted in 2020,there were approximately 121 million people aged 60 and above in rural areas,accounting for 23.8 percent of the total rural population,7.99 percentage points higher than in urban areas.According to data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in October 2022,more than half of all elderly people did not live with their children,and in some rural areas,the proportion exceeded 70 percent.

Low selenium and reduced cognitive function in a cohort elderly study

Cognitive function in the elderly is affected by various environmental,social,and individual factors.Studies show that chemical trace elements are closely related to cognitive function.As a protective factor,selenium promotes cognition in the elderly.However,study results into the effects of selenium on cognition have varied.By eliminating unstable environmental and other related factors,the present study selected elderly individuals from rural areas of the Shandong province to verify whether low selenium exposure is a risk factor for decreased cognitive function.Results demonstrated that age,sex,education,occupation,hypertension,stroke,and body selenium levels were factors affecting cognitive function in the elderly,and that selenium was an important protective factor.Moreover,results supported the hypothesis that a lifelong low selenium level is associated with low cognitive function.

村域社会资本与农村老人的社区治理参与

基于对全国11个省份1137位农村老人的问卷调查,从村域社会网络、村域信任和村域规范3个维度考察了村域社会资本对农村老人社区治理参与的影响。结果表明,村域社会网络、村域信任和村域规范均显著正向影响农村老人的社区治理参与,且这一结果具有稳健性。村域社会网络、村域信任和村域规范对农村老人社区治理参与的影响存在着性别、年龄和政治身份的群体差异,特别是村域社会资本的各个维度仅显著影响了非党员群体的社区治理参与,而对党员群体的影响不显著。研究进一步发现,村域社会资本主要通过公平感提升和支持获得状况改善影响农村老人的社区治理参与。要发挥村域社会资本的作用,须打造社区参与平台及空间,为积累村域社会资本提供土壤;还须通过培育参与意识和公共精神,促进村域社会资本的积累,延续村域社会资本的生命力。

论长寿内卷化

进入长寿时代后,农村老年人在其高龄阶段的生命历程中,会遭遇各种负性生活事件。伴随其机体衰退,他们会不可避免地坠入巨大的生活风险之中。结合中国传统的老龄观,通过对“内卷化”这一概念的辨析和创造性转化,可以构建“长寿内卷化”的概念,以理解当前农村高龄老年人的生活风险状态。当高龄老年人的生命历程步入内卷点之后,其寿命虽然仍然在延长,但由于各种负性生命事件的发生和影响,生命质量却开始下滑,与理想状态相反的是,这段生命历程将持续进入病寿、苦寿、辱寿等单一存在或同时并存的生活风险状态;当这一曲线下滑至接近生命质量轴的交叉点时,它意味着高龄老年人生命主动或被动的终结。支撑从长寿内卷化到生活风险发生的机制是,城镇化进程带来的社会压力通过环状结构的新家庭结构形式向高龄老年人转移。秉持积极老龄观,加强政策干预,实现长寿去内卷化,是长寿时代所必需面对的重要议题。作为一个分析性概念的“长寿内卷化”,不仅对理解当前农村高龄老年人的生活风险具有理论意义和政策意义,将来也同样适用于分析城市高龄老年人的生活风险状况。

空巢老人失能状况及影响因素的城乡差异——基于2018 CLHLS数据的实证分析

[目的]分析我国空巢老人失能状况及影响因素的城乡差异,为预防老年人失能及完善老龄社会政策提供参考。[方法]基于2018年中国老年健康调查数据(CLHLS),选取≥65岁的空巢老人为研究对象,利用Katz指数量表及二分类Logistic回归模型对4488名空巢老人失能状况及影响因素进行分析。[结果]空巢老人总体失能率为13.4%,城市空巢老人失能率(14.6%)高于农村空巢老人(12.2%),轻度失能者占比最高(9.9%),洗澡困难是失能老人最易遇到的自理难题。高龄、自评健康差、患多种慢性病、参与社交活动频率低是城乡空巢老人失能的共同危险因素(P<0.05)。吸烟、过去从事体力劳动、未每年体检是农村空巢老人失能特有危险因素,受教育水平高则是其失能的保护因素(P<0.05)。[结论]与一般老年群体相比,我国空巢老人失能率较高,且失能状况存在显著城乡差异。应制定针对性预防和社会救助措施,完善老年照护服务支持体系,协同保障空巢老年人身心健康。

Study on the challenge and influence of the built thermal environment on elderly health in rural areas:Evidence from Shandong,China

Elderly health is increasingly recognized as a worldwide challenge with the continuous social aging trend.This study aimed to investigate the thermal conditions of the elderly in rural areas of Shandong,China.The thermal sensation and physiological response performances of elderly participants were examined in their own houses.Results show a clear seasonal pattern in cardiovascular disease mortality,cold stress increases the cardiovascular disease risk.The coal-based stoves serve as the main source of home heating and their limited coverage of the room area gave rise to poor quality of thermal comfort.The analysis of skin temperature for those under 65 and above did not reveal any significant difference in response to different indoor temperatures.The regression results confirm that a colder home leads to a rising value of the elderly’s systolic blood pressure,rising by more than 1 mmHg for every 1℃decrease in indoor temperature and thus posing a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases.The systolic blood pressure value of older subjects rise more when they are exposed to decreasing indoor temperatures,possibly due to an age-related decline in their ability to maintain stability of blood pressure.It is noteworthy that the average blood velocity of older subjects reduces less in response to decreasing indoor temperatures,indicating a weakened capacity to resist cold stress and its associated high risk of hypertension.This investigation provides evidence in favor of improving the thermal environment of the elderly and reducing their risk of cardiovascular diseases.

农村二孩家庭男孩偏好对长姐体质健康的影响研究

基于资源分配理论,选用中国家庭追踪调查(CFPS)2010-2018年数据,考察了农村二孩家庭中男孩偏好对长姐体质健康的影响及内在机制。研究发现:男孩偏好对长姐体质健康具有显著负向影响,相比有妹妹,有弟弟的长姐身高Z评分将降低0.254个单位,表现出发育迟缓和消瘦的概率比正常组将分别提高5%和2%,但与肥胖不存在显著关联。性别平等感知在男孩偏好与长姐体质健康关系中发挥调节效应,父母感知到的社会性别平等越弱,男孩偏好对长姐体质健康的不利影响越强。男孩偏好对长姐体质健康的影响存在异质性,长姐处于学龄期、二孩处于学龄前和父亲出生队列较早时,男孩偏好对长姐体质健康将产生更不利的影响。未来应结合我国农村地区重男轻女的社会环境,在保证儿童福利有效供给的基础上,发展以家庭为核心的福利政策,全面构建普惠型儿童福利支持体系。

An Empirical Investigation of Rural Empty-nesters in Chongqing and a Construction of Service System

Based on field investigation, the rural empty-nesters in Chongqing were comprehensively analyzed from their family conditions, economic conditions, concept of old-age care and needs. As is indicated by the research, there is a high proportion of rural empty-nesters who have low income and live alone at home. The situation of empty-nesters has brought about a series of problems, which propose new challenges to the old-age services system. In this paper, related solutions were proposed from both macro and micro perspectives.

乡村振兴背景下农村旅居康养的发展逻辑、限制与展望

农村退休迁移一度是西方多学科重点关注的研究话题,其兴起主要源自乡村生活价值重估、消费功能兴起以及老年人提高晚年生活质量的要求,但在国内学术界一直缺乏相应关注。伴随中国进入到城市化高速发展、乡村全面振兴的新发展阶段,珠三角、长三角等一些地方已开始出现与国外退休迁移相似的农村旅居康养动向。结合实地调查发现,相较于西方农村退休迁移的发展背景,国内农村旅居康养的产生是市场开发、政策引导、乡村建设和个体诉求共同作用的结果。鉴于国内农村旅居康养还存在全年段康养开发不足、医疗卫生基础薄弱、配套服务设施不完善、专业服务水平不高等问题,建议围绕城乡养老服务需求形成整合性框架,促进康养与旅游融合发展,引导乡村舒适驱动型发展,开展城乡互益性养老交流,建立城乡养老服务联合体,以实现城乡共建共享共富。

农村康养产业发展的理论阐释、多元实践与政策协同

农村康养产业作为一种新兴业态,是秉承新发展理念,在乡村舒适性资源利用、后生产主义乡村价值兴起、农村产业融合驱动、城乡地域共同体功能再造、康养政策引领与市场开发的共同作用下发展起来的。在实践中,通过对自然资源、文化资源、中医药资源和森林资源的开发,与乡村旅游、文化体验、休闲度假、景观游赏等相融合,发展出田园康养、文化康养、医疗康养和森林康养等新型形态,在一定程度上满足了老年群体多样化的养老需求,建立了互益性城乡交流渠道,推动了乡村产业振兴和社区建设。但目前其发展的体制机制尚不成熟,存在统筹规划力度不足、业态短板比较突出、专业康养人才匮乏、数字化技术融入较低等问题。文章建议从主体、资本、人才、技术的角度构建政策协同的路径,加强顶层设计、突出康养特色、创新职业培训、推进科技创新,实现农村康养产业的可持续和高质量发展。同时,围绕农村康养产业发展,还应加强对城乡互益性养老服务机制的研究,探讨建立衔接有序、功能互补的城乡养老服务网络的可能路径。

突发公共卫生事件下农村老人生活满意度及其提升路径——基于2017—2021年安徽民生调查数据的证据

关注突发公共卫生事件下农村老人生活满意度是我国积极老龄化战略实施和农村现代化治理的重要内容。2017—2021年安徽民生调查数据显示,在突发公共卫生事件的冲击下,农村老人总体生活满意度下降;医疗卫生焦虑大幅上涨,对基本生存问题的担忧超过了对养老服务的需求;人力资本质量、社会经济参与正向影响其总体生活满意度。提升农村老人生活满意度的重点在于精准回应生活需求,赋予低龄老人经济再造能力,依托自然禀赋嵌入互助养老组织,构建多级联动的危机治理格局,优化突发公共卫生事件应急机制。