Health Status of the Elderly in China
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Numerous studies have been conducted in developed countries assessing the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on health, but similar research is lacking in developing countries such as People's Republic of China. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between SES and health among the elderly in China with regard to overall health, morbidity, disability and mortality. The 1993 and 1997 waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the 1992 China Old Age Supporting System Survey provide the data for the analysis. Contrary to expectations based on research conducted in developed countries that those in a higher social stratum enjoy better health, this study finds that SES factors not only have no significant effect on overall health, disability and mortality, but that in the absence of major chronic disease, an inverse relationship exists between SES and health. Three hypotheses are proposed to explain this epidemiological paradox: an "unawareness effect," a "survival effect" and a "lifestyle effect." The results suggest a significant role for access to health care and for healthy lifestyles. One of the major analytical methods used in this study is the Grade of Membership Model. The analysis demonstrates a remarkable similarity between the U.S and China in the clustering of different dimensions of disability. In terms of the relationship of health-related quality of life and quantity of life, this study finds that the proportion of active life expectancy is smaller for both women and men in the U.S. than China, despite their longer life expectancy. In China, urban women have an advantage in both over rural women; however, urban men are living longer but with a smaller proportion of active life than rural men.
JOUR
Huang, Jie
2003
Dissertation Abstracts International, A: The Humanities and Social Sciences
64
2
670-A
0419-4209
128