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Impacts of Childhood Socioeconomic Status on Health of Chinese Elderly: Policy Implications

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Trends and Determinants of Healthy Aging in China

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Abstract

This chapter examines the effect of childhood socioeconomic status on health stratification among adults age 45 years and older, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The findings show that childhood socioeconomic status has both direct and indirect effects on the health of middle-aged and older adults. The effects vary among different health indicators, with larger effects on physical functional indicators, such as activities of daily living, and smaller effects on subjective indicators, such as mental health and self-rated health. Analysis of structural equation modeling reveals that childhood socioeconomic status has an indirect effect on health in middle and old age through socioeconomic status and behavioral patterns in adulthood. The study suggests that early life experiences and socioeconomic status have long-lasting effects on health. Research on the health of middle-aged and older adults should focus on a dynamic life course perspective, as well as the differences and explanations of the mechanisms of the effects of childhood social status on different health indicators.

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Acknowledgements

The chapter was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (project approval numbers: 71233001, 71490732).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Bei**g, China

    Cuicui **a

  2. Department of Sociology, Peking University, Bei**g, China

    Jianxin Li & Jiehua Lu

Authors
  1. Cuicui **a
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  2. Jianxin Li
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  3. Jiehua Lu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cuicui **a .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National School of Development at Peking University, Peking University, Bei**g, China

    Yi Zeng

  2. Department of Sociology, Peking University, Bei**g, China

    Jiehua Lu

  3. National School of Development, Peking University, Bei**g, China

    **aoyan Lei

  4. National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Bei**g, China

    **aoming Shi

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**a, C., Li, J., Lu, J. (2022). Impacts of Childhood Socioeconomic Status on Health of Chinese Elderly: Policy Implications. In: Zeng, Y., Lu, J., Lei, X., Shi, X. (eds) Trends and Determinants of Healthy Aging in China. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4154-2_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4154-2_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-4153-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-4154-2

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