GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN IN CHINA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER PEOPLE

Abstract

Based on the data of “China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey” in 2014, this study explores situation and characteristics of the Chinese elderly who taking care of their grandchildren as well as its effects on the quality of life of older people in the Chinese cultural context.

The results show that 34 percent of the Chinese elderly caring their grandchildren. The older groups with younger age, with spouse, higher educational attainments, better physical health and living in urban areas are more likely to care their grandchildren. The empirical results show that taking care of grandchildren do not improve the older grandparents’ economic benefits. However, the finding also supports that the care may enhance older grandparents’positive psychological feelings and life satisfaction.This study indicates that the older people who provide care for grandchildren especially those live in the rural left-behind families and skipped-generation families should be supported and compensated.