HAPPINESS AND MORAL CAPITAL—UNDERSTANDING THE GENDERED DIFFERENCE IN INTERGENERATIONAL GIVING IN CHINA. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhan, H
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.437
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: In 2015, over one million international students are enrolled in various U.S. colleges, among them, nearly 1/3 (31.5%) come from China, ranking China topic one "place of origin" as a sending country. The next sending country, India, sent 50% fewer students to the U.S. than China, taking 15.9% of the total international student population. Even though many Chinese students, especially at graduate level, do receive scholarships, increasing number of Chinese students coming to the U.S. for higher education are funded by their own families This study uses the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) (n=29, 500) to analyze patterns of intergenerational giving and elders life satisfaction reports. Results showed that older adults who provided educational loan to their younger family members consistently reported higher levels of life satisfaction. Having greater assets, being married, and living with a spouse are positively correlated with elders' intergenerational giving and report of life satisfaction. A gendered difference is shown in life satisfaction report: Marital status for women (being married, not divorced or widowed) is related to intergenerational giving and higher life satisfaction; but it is not true for men—marital status did not affect men. Discussions are provided by using deferred exchange theory and comparing Chinese older adults' investment behaviors with those of the American older adults.