Support From Migrant Children and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in Transnational Families

Jinyu Liu; Man Guo; Weiyu Mao; Ling Xu; Xiaoning Huang; Iris Chi

doi:10.1177/2333721418778187

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Support From Migrant Children and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in Transnational Families

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Support From Migrant Children and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in Transnational Families

Jinyu Liu, Man Guo, Weiyu Mao, Ling Xu, Xiaoning Huang and Iris Chi

Gerontology and geriatric medicine, Vol.4, 2333721418778187

07/17/2018

DOI: 10.1177/2333721418778187

PMCID: PMC6050608

PMID: 30035196

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Abstract

International migration creates important consequences both for migrants and the family members they leave behind. Prior research has noted not only the adverse effects of children’s migration on parents’ mental health but also the fact that family ties and closeness can persist because of supportive exchange despite geographical distances. This study examined the associations between economic and emotional support from migrant children living abroad and depressive symptoms among Chinese elders in transnational families and whether such associations were moderated by the elders’ physical health status and the presence of children remaining in China. The data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 293 older Chinese in transnational families in Beijing, China. The results of linear regression show that more emotional support from migrant children was associated with lower depressive symptoms among these elders. The association between emotional support and depressive symptoms was stronger among the elders who did not have children remaining in China and who had functional limitations. The findings suggest that maintaining emotionally supportive relationships with their migrant children abroad may help to prevent depressive symptoms among these elders, especially among the older adults who have functional limitations and who have no children remaining in the home country.

Chinese

depressive symptoms

emotional closeness

family support

PINE Study - Psychological Wellbeing

transnational families

Details

Title: Subtitle: Support From Migrant Children and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in Transnational Families
Creators: Jinyu Liu - Columbia University
Man Guo - University of Iowa
Weiyu Mao - University of Nevada Reno
Ling Xu - The University of Texas at Arlington
Xiaoning Huang - Columbia University
Iris Chi - University of Southern California
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Gerontology and geriatric medicine, Vol.4, 2333721418778187
DOI: 10.1177/2333721418778187
PMID: 30035196
PMCID: PMC6050608
NLM abbreviation: Gerontol Geriatr Med
ISSN: 2333-7214
eISSN: 2333-7214
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Language: English
Date published: 07/17/2018
Academic Unit: School of Social Work
Record Identifier: 9984307135202771

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