(A) Study on the quality of life of Chinese older adults across different living arrangements

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Against the backdrop of China’s rapid transition into an aging society, how to improve the quality of life of older adults under diverse living arrangements has become an important topic in the field of sociology. This study uses five waves (2011–2020) of CHARLS panel data to construct an integrated analytical framework of “living arrangements — social mechanisms (intergenerational support, social participation) — environmental mechanisms (living environment) — quality of life”, and systematically examines the differences and underlying mechanisms.
The main findings are as follows:
(1) Between 2011 and 2020, older adults’ living arrangements showed a “two up, two down” trend: increases in living with a spouse or alone, and decreases in living with children or with spouse and children. Overall patterns were stable, though individuals dynamically shifted toward either a “spousal nuclearization” or “intergenerational return”.
(2) Living arrangements have a significant impact on the quality of life of older adults. Those living with a spouse reported the highest quality of life, followed by those living with a spouse and children, and those living alone, while those living only with children had the lowest quality of life. In addition, any change in living arrangement type significantly improved overall quality of life.
(3) Intergenerational support exhibits a “functional–emotional” differentiation pattern. Both daily care support and emotional support have a positive effect on quality of life. Daily care support and emotional support respectively mediate the paths from “living with children/living with spouse and children” and “living with spouse/living with spouse and children” to quality of life, while the mediating effect of financial support is not significant.
(4) The overall level of social participation among older adults is relatively low, but a clear “dose effect” exists—the more activities they participate in, the higher their quality of life. Older adults living alone show the highest participation level, followed by those living with a spouse, while those living with children or with spouse and children participate less. social participation has a significant mediating effect only in the path from “living with children” to quality of life.
(5) The living environment of older adults can be characterized as “adequate in basic aspects but partially deficient.” Older adults living with a spouse or children enjoy significantly better housing quality, facility completeness, and community resource accessibility than those living alone. Both housing conditions and community environment directly contribute to improved quality of life, but only housing conditions have a significant moderating effect.
This study deepens the understanding of the mechanisms influencing the quality of life of older adults in China and provides empirical evidence for the development of elderly care policies and social support systems. The findings indicate that policies should integrate family support with social resource allocation by establishing a collaborative “family–community–government” care model to comprehensively enhance older adults’ quality of life and promote healthy aging.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

중국이 급속한 고령사회로 전환되는 배경 속에서, 다양한 가구구조 하에서 노인의 삶의 질을 어떻게 향상시킬 것인가는 사회학 분야에서 중요한 연구 주제로 부상하고 있다. 본 연구는 2011년부터 2020년까지의 CHARLS 패널자료 5차례를 활용하여, “가구구조 – 사회적 메커니즘(세대간 지지, 사회참여) – 환경적 메커니즘(거주 환경) – 삶의 질”이라는 통합적 분석틀을 구축하고, 노인의 삶의 질에 대한 영향과 그 작동 메커니즘을 체계적으로 분석하였다.
본 연구의 주요 연구 결과는 다음과 같다.
(1) 2011년부터 2020년까지 중국 노인의 가구구조는 ‘두 가지 증가와 두 가지 감소’의 변화 양상을 보였다. 즉, 배우자와 함께 거주하거나 독거하는 비율은 증가한 반면, 자녀와 동거하거나 배우자·자녀와 함께 거주하는 비율은 감소하였다. 전반적인 구조는 비교적 안정적이었으나, 개인 차원에서는 ‘배우자 중심의 핵가족화’ 또는 ‘세대 간 재결합’이라는 두 가지 방향으로의 동적 이동이 관찰되었다.
(2) 가구구조는 노인의 삶의 질에 유의미한 영향을 미쳤다. 배우자와 함께 거주하는 노인의 삶의 질이 가장 높았고, 배우자·자녀 동거, 독거 순으로 나타났고, 자녀와 동거하는 경우 삶의 질이 가장 낮았다. 또한 가구구조의 유형이 변화할 경우, 전반적으로 노인의 삶의 질이 유의하게 개선되는 경향이 나타났다.
(3) 세대간 지지는 ‘기능적 지지–정서적 지지’로 분화되는 특성을 보였다. 생활돌봄 지지와 정서적 지지는 모두 노인의 삶의 질에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 생활돌봄 지지는 ‘자녀와 동거’ 및 ‘배우자·자녀 동거’에서 삶의 질로 이어지는 경로를 매개하였고, 정서적 지지는 ‘배우자와 동거’ 및 ‘배우자·자녀 동거’에서 삶의 질로 이어지는 경로를 매개하였다. 반면, 경제적 지지의 매개효과는 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다.
(4) 노인의 사회참여 수준은 전반적으로 낮은 편이었으나, 참여 활동 수가 증가할수록 삶의 질이 향상되는 뚜렷한 용량 효과가 나타났다. 독거 노인의 사회참여 수준이 가장 높았고, 그 다음으로 배우자 동거 노인이었으며, 자녀 또는 배우자·자녀와 동거하는 노인의 사회참여 수준은 상대적으로 낮았다. 사회참여는 ‘자녀와 동거’에서 삶의 질로 이어지는 경로에서만 유의한 매개효과를 보였다.
(5) 노인의 거주 환경은 전반적으로 기본적 조건은 충족되어 있으나 일부 측면에서는 여전히 미흡한 것으로 나타났다. 배우자 또는 자녀와 함께 거주하는 노인은 독거 노인에 비해 주거 조건과 지역사회 환경 접근성이 유의하게 우수하였다. 주거 조건과 지역사회 환경은 모두 삶의 질에 직접적인 긍정적 영향을 미쳤으나, 조절효과는 주거 조건에서만 유의하게 확인되었다.
본 연구는 중국 노인의 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 작용 메커니즘에 대한 이해를 심화시키고, 노인 돌봄 정책과 사회적 지원 체계 구축을 위한 실증적 근거를 제공한다. 연구 결과는 가족 지원과 사회적 자원을 연계한 ‘가족–지역사회–정부’ 협력형 돌봄 모델의 구축이 노인의 삶의 질 향상과 건강한 노화 촉진에 중요함을 시사한다.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Chapter 1. Introduction 1
• 1. Research Background 1
• 2. Research Objectives 5
• 3. Problem Statement 6
• 4. Structure of the Dissertation 7
• Chapter 2. Theoretical Background and Literature Review 10
• 1. Definition of Relevant Concepts 10
• 1) Older Adults 10
• 2) Living Arrangements 10
• 3) Quality of Life 11
• 2. Theoretical Foundations 12
• 1) Ecological Theory of Aging 12
• 2) Social Exchange Theory 13
• 3) Social Support Theory 15
• 4) Activity Theory 17
• 5) Hierarchy of Needs Theory 19
• 3. Literature Review 21
• 1) Living Arrangements 21
• 2) Quality of Life 24
• 3) Living Arrangements and Quality of Life 28
• 4) Living Arrangements, Intergenerational Support, and Quality of Life 33
• 5) Living Arrangements, Social Participation, and Quality of Life 39
• 6) Living Arrangements, Living Environment, and Quality of Life 45
• Chapter 3. Research Methods 54
• 1. Research Framework 54
• 2. Research Hypotheses 55
• 3. Data Sources 60
• 4. Measurement of Variables 61
• 1) Dependent Variable 61
• 2) Independent Variable 63
• 3) Mediating Variable 64
• 4) Moderating Variable 65
• 5) Control Variable 67
• 5. Analysis Methods 69
• 1) Exploratory Data Analysis 69
• 2) Model Construction 69
• 3) Mediation Effect Test 72
• 4) Moderation Effect Test 73
• Chapter 4. Analysis of Living Arrangements and Quality of Life 75
• 1. Main Variables and Descriptive Statistics 75
• 2. Analysis of Living Arrangement Characteristics of Older Adults 76
• 1) Changes in the Living Arrangements of Older Adults 76
• 2) Demographic Differences in Living Arrangements of Older Adults 77
• 3. Analysis of the Quality of Life Among Older Adults 79
• 1) Status of the Quality of Life Among Older Adults 79
• 2) Quality of Life and Demographic Characteristics of Older Adults 80
• 4. Quality of Life Across Different Living Arrangements 82
• 5. Changes in Living Arrangements and Quality of Life 82
• 1) Sample Selection 82
• 2) The Dynamic Changes in Living Arrangements among Older Adults 82
• 3) The Impact of Changes in Living Arrangements on Quality of Life Among Older Adults 84
• 6. Summary 87
• Chapter 5. Living Arrangements, Intergenerational Support, Social Participation, and Quality of Life 91
• 1. Living Arrangements, Intergenerational Support, and Quality of Life 91
• 1) Changing Trends in Intergenerational Support Among Older Adults 91
• 2) Intergenerational Support Across Different Living Arrangements 92
• 3) Intergenerational Support and Quality of Life with Different Living Arrangements 95
• 2. Living Arrangements, Social Participation, and Quality of Life 96
• 1) Changing Trends in Social Participation Among Older Adults 96
• 2) Social Participation Across Different Living Arrangements 96
• 3) Social Participation and Quality of Life with Different Living Arrangements 100
• 3. The Impact of Living Arrangements, Intergenerational Support, and Social Participation on the Quality of Life Among Older Adults 101
• 4. Robustness Checks 103
• 5. Heterogeneity Analysis 105
• 1) Gender Heterogeneity Analysis 105
• 2) Urban-Rural Heterogeneity Analysis 107
• 6. Mediation Analysis 108
• 7. Summary 111
• Chapter 6. Living Arrangements, Living Environment, and Quality of Life 117
• 1. Basic Situation of the Living Environment of Older Adults 117
• 2. Living Environment Across Different Living Arrangements 119
• 1) Housing Conditions Across Different Living Arrangements 119
• 2) Community Environment Across Different Living Arrangements 121
• 3. Living Environment and Quality of Life with Different Living Arrangements 122
• 1) Housing Conditions and Quality of Life with Different Living Arrangements 122
• 2) Community Environment and Quality of Life with Different Living Arrangements 125
• 4. The Impact of Living Arrangements and Living Environment on the Quality of Life Among Older Adults 126
• 5. Robustness Checks 131
• 6. Heterogeneity Analysis 134
• 1) Gender Heterogeneity Analysis 134
• 2) Urban-Rural Heterogeneity Analysis 136
• 7. Moderation Analysis 138
• 8. Summary 141
• Chapter 7. Conclusion 144
• 1. Research Summary and Discussion 144
• 2. Policy Recommendations 156
• 3. Contributions, Implications and Limitations 161
• References 167