Table of Content

29 September 2023, Volume 47 Issue 5

Previous Issue    Next Issue

The Impact of Delayed Childbearing on Children's Health Development in Post-transitional China: Evidence from the CFPS2010-2020

Niu Jianlin

2023, 47(5):  3-17. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1286KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Delayed childbearing has been found detrimental to children's health. While post-transitional China is observing a substantial increase of childbearing postponement, this study aims to investigate health impact of this trend on the next generation. Using data from the 2010-2020 China Family Panel Studies（CFPS）, this study examines the multidimensional health differences related to both maternal and paternal ages in post-transitional China. The results show that delayed childbearing contributes negatively to children's birth weight, their physical development in childhood, and general health in adolescence. These health impacts operate partly through congenital factors, as manifested in the greater risk of low birth weight, and partly via the related family environments and resources. These findings highlight the need to incorporate health considerations into decisions about childbearing, both for health promotion and for sustained population development. 

He is Healthier? The Effects of the Parity-employment Life Course Trajectory on the Health of Mid-aged and Older Adults in China

Zhao Menghan, Gao Weijie

2023, 47(5):  18-31. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (2725KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

China has recently implemented strategies of actively addressing population ageing and healthy China. In this context, understanding the health disparities among mid-aged and older adults from the life course perspective improves lifelong health service policies. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study（CHARLS）and sequence analysis, this study constructs parity-employment trajectories. Seven trajectories are identified for both men and women, as well as a male-specific trajectory of remaining unmarried and childless while working, and a female-specific trajectory of giving birth to one child and leaving the workforce early. Among younger birth cohorts, more individuals have only one or two children, while fewer have three or more children. Moreover, a higher proportion of women leaving the workforce early is found among younger cohorts. Further analysis shows that an increase in the number of births has a negative effect on the health of mid-aged and older women while leaving the workforce early is detrimental to the health of both men and women.

A Prospective Study of the Impact of Caring for Grandchildren on the Physical Health and Psychological Well-being of Rural Older Adults

Wang Ping, Chang Chaoqun, Pan Shuang, Li Yiming

2023, 47(5):  32-45. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1285KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Using 7-wave longitudinal data spanning 18 years, this paper explores the impact of grandparenting on rural older adults' physical health and psychological well-being. Moderate or intensive care, grandparenting regardless of whether living with adult children or not, and transitioning to grandparenting significantly increase older adults' (instrumental) activities of daily living, while never grandparenting and transitioning to the state of not grandparenting significantly decrease their (instrumental) activities of daily living. Intensive care, grandparenting and living with adult children, and persistent care positively affect their self-rated health, while never grandparenting negatively affects their self-rated health. Older adults who have persistently/never cared for grandchildren are more/less satisfied with their lives. Moderate and intensive grandparenting and grandparenting regardless of whether living with adult children or not significantly reduce older adults' depression, while never grandparenting and transitioning to the state of not grandparenting significantly increase the number of depressive symptoms. The results suggest that moderate grandparenting benefits older adults' physical health and psychological well-being. This might result from the harmonious interaction between their role of ageing parents and their "parent" role in intergenerational child care.


Understanding High-quality Population Development:Theoretical Implications, Supporting Factors, and Practical Paths

Wang Xiaofeng, Liu Huawei

2023, 47(5):  46-58. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1254KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

The declining birth rates, population ageing, and regional population differentiation urgently require China to optimize its population development strategy, high-quality population development becomes the main guideline. The guideline is derived from new development philosophy, driven by reform and innovation, centered around the high-quality life of the people, aimed at the comprehensive development of individuals and common prosperity of all people, serving the strategy of national rejuvenation. China has the economic advantages of wealth accumulation and high-quality economic development, talent advantages due to the comprehensive education system and the strategy for strengthening the country with talent, advantages in factor aggregation through new-type urbanization and urban agglomeration construction, the institutional advantage of the leadership of the CPC, and the cultural advantages of people-oriented and filial piety values. To make the most of these advantages, China should establish a comprehensive and integrated policy system for high-quality population development that covers fields such as science, education, culture and health, support for childbirth, labor employment, population ageing, and population security.

High-quality Population Development, New Human Capital, and High-quality Employment

Yu Xiao, Wang Qihui

2023, 47(5):  59-73. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1282KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

The overall quality—scientific and cultural quality, health quality, and ideological and moral quality—is the key to high-quality population development. Based on the three-level theory of personality, this paper constructs a comprehensive analysis framework of non-cognitive ability and verifies the impact of non-cognitive ability, such as ideological and moral quality and personality quality, on high-quality employment of workers from the perspective of the new human capital theory. Main conclusions: Workers with higher scores in emotional stability, conscientiousness, and openness personality traits will achieve greater external career success, while those with higher scores in conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and openness will experience higher internal career achievement. A sense of successful value helps to enhance a worker's external and internal career accomplishments. Workers with higher scores in industrious experience will obtain higher internal career achievement. Non-cognitive ability maximizes personal utility through career matching, and also affects workers' career achievements by increasing occupational investment and accumulating social capital.

China's Low Fertility and Provincial Differences: Fertility Index-based Observation

Song Jian, Hu Bo, Jiang Chunyun, Chen Wenqi

2023, 47(5):  74-87. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1379KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Focusing on the phenomenon that childbearing-age people "do not want to give birth, ""dare not to give birth," and "are unable to give birth," we comprehensively consider the three dimensions of fertility—intention, conditions, and structure, build a fertility composite index according to the relevant theories of low fertility rate, observe and analyze the current situation of low fertility rate in China, and make inter-provincial comparisons. We find that the average national fertility composite index is 0.492. The fertility condition index is the lowest, reflecting the constraints on fertility caused by employment and income factors and lack of fertility support. The structural characteristics of the childbearing-age people are consistent in all provinces, while the fertility intention and fertility conditions are spatially heterogeneous. There is a positive association between fertility index and total fertility rate. With a 0.1 unit increase in fertility index, total fertility rate increases by 0.286 units. Improving fertility intention can help effectively increase the total fertility rate; however, the changes in fertility conditions and fertility structure have not been able to effectively promote the total fertility rate. It is thus necessary to establish, improve, and implement long-term fertility support in order to reshape the fertility intention and change the behavior of the population.

Postponement of Marriage and Childbearing in China during 1990-2020: Trends and Characteristics

Zhang Xianling, Sheng Yi'nan

2023, 47(5):  88-101. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1695KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Using the census and sampling survey data between 1990 and 2020, this study examines the postponement of marriage and childbearing in China. The results show a persistent increase in the mean age at first marriage in urban and rural China. However, the postponement of the first marriage started earlier in urban areas than rural areas during 2000-2010. The postponement of first marriage in rural areas accelerated during 2010-2020. This led to a widening and then narrowing trend of the urban-rural gap. Age at first marriage differs across educational attainment; women and men with higher education significantly postpone their first marriage. Men with higher education also show a lower likelihood of staying unmarried for life. The curve of age-specific fertility rate for women at childbearing age has shifted downwards to the right, and the peak childbearing age of urban women has shifted more than that of rural women. The mean age at childbearing has been increasing, with a more rapid speed in 2000-2010 and then a slower one in 2010-2020. The mean age at childbearing of each parity has been postponed, especially for the first and second births. Women with different educational levels all postpone childbearing, and those with higher education levels show larger postponement.

Trends of International Migration in China's Neighboring Countries since 1960

Duan Chengrong, Min Xinwei

2023, 47(5):  102-114. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1277KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Using the Global Bilateral Migration Database and the International Migration Stock Database, this paper examines the changing trends of international migration from China's neighboring countries between 1960 and 2020. It also explores the situation of migrants from neighboring countries to China and their future trends. In the past 60 years, both the stock of migrants from neighboring countries and the stock of neighboring countries' migrants to China decreased first and then increased. Meanwhile, the destinations of migrants from neighboring countries began to shift to Europe, America, and the Gulf countries, with differences existing among neighboring countries. During this period, although migrants from neighboring countries occupied an important position among all migrants in China, most migrants from neighboring countries did not migrate to mainland China. Considering China's future development prospects, it can be expected that China will face a larger scale of migrants from neighboring countries. Currently, adequate preparations are needed in academic research and policy-making.

Influence of Climate Factors on Mortality Risk of Older Adults in China

Fan Xiying, Li Jingjing

2023, 47(5):  115-128. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (1263KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Older adults have higher mortality risk during climate change. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) and the China Meteorological Yearbook, this study employs the Cox proportional hazards model to test the impacts of climate factors and individual socioeconomic characteristics on older adults' mortality risk. The research results indicate that changes in climate factors lead to changes in older adults' mortality risk. Extreme high and low temperatures have a significant negative impact on the mortality risk. Its interaction terms with other climate factors, such as air pressure and humidity, are also significant. Unmarried rural older men have a higher mortality level, while economically advanced older people typically exhibit lower risk. Social security plays an interference or reinforcement interactive role in the impact of different climate factors on the mortality risk of older adults, which can effectively improve their climate adaptability.