Urban-Rural Differences in the Role of Family Support in Physical and Mental Health of Elderly People in China

【Abstract】 Objective To investigate social support for elderly in urban and rural settings, and determine its role in physical and psychological health of the elderly populations. Methods Data were extracted from the 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Physical health was measured by the ADL/IADL scale. Mental health was measured by the CES-D scale. Family support included financial support, daily care and emotional care. Binary logistic models were established to test the associations between family support and physical and mental health. Results For the rural elderly people, financial support from children was positively associated with physical health (P <0.05); whereas, emotional comfort from children was associated with better mental health (P <0.01). Daily care from children was associated with physical and mental health of the elderly in both urban and rural settings (P <0.01). Conclusion An urban-rural difference exists in the role of family support in physical and mental health of the elderly. Rural elderly people are more dependent on family support than their urban counterparts. Social support needs to be strengthened to reduce the urban-rural gap. Meanwhile, family support will continue to play a role in improving the health of elderly populations.