Abstract: This study utilizes the longitudinal survey data to investigate the age group differences in the impact of changes in family structure on the mortality risk of rural older adults. The results show that ‘always being in a linear family’ significantly reduced the mortality risk of older adults. ‘Changing from a linear family to a one-person family or a conjugal nuclear family’ resultes in a decline of the mortality risk of the older adults under age 75 while lead to an increase after controlling the intergenerational support and health condition. It also increases the mortality risk of the older adults above age 75. ‘Changing from a one-person family or a conjugal nuclear family to a linear family’ significantly reduces the mortality risk of the older adults above age 75. The results reveal that Chinese society is in a period of transition and coexistence of traditional and relatively modern family structures. Changes in family structure based on respect and care for life that meet the multi-dimensional care needs of the older adults benefit the health and life expectancy of older adults. Supporting the health development of younger older people under the changes of family structure will also lead to better health conditions when they grow much older in the future, thus further promote the realization of a healthy aging society in China.

Keywords: Family Structure Changes, Rural Elderly, Risk of Mortality, Age Difference, Longitudinal Data

摘要： 利用专项追踪数据考察家庭结构变动对农村老年人死亡风险影响的年龄差异。结果显示，“一直为直系家庭”显著降低了低龄老人和高龄老人的死亡风险；“直系家庭变动为单人家庭或夫妇核心家庭”对低龄老人死亡风险的影响在控制老年人代际支持和健康后由显著降低转为显著提升，同时显著提升了高龄老人的死亡风险；“单人家庭或夫妇核心家庭变动为直系家庭”仅显著降低了高龄老人的死亡风险。结果揭示了中国社会正处于传统与现代的家庭结构更迭共存时期，基于生命的尊重和关怀以迎合老年人多维养老需求的家庭结构变动有利于拓展其健康寿命，关注家庭结构变动下低龄老人群体的养老支持和健康发展对塑造未来高龄老人群体健康态势未雨绸缪，促进中国实现健康老龄化社会。

关键词: 家庭结构变动, 农村老年人, 死亡风险, 年龄差异, 追踪数据