Economic Hardship Related Stress and Health of Chinese Elderly

Dhiman Das, National University of Singapore

In this research we study the effect of stress due to poverty at old ages in China. Specifically we look at whether psychological stress due to economic hardship in old ages affects aging in terms of activities of daily living (ADL) limitations and cognitive impairment along with the onset of Cardio- and cerebro-vascular and infectious diseases. Using data from two recent waves of the nationally representative Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) we find that economic hardship related stress do have significant effects on the onset and continuation of ADL limitations and cognitive impairment after controlling for variables reflecting lifetime economic hardship that may affect stress. The results also find moderating effect of support from children, participation in social activities and lifestyle behaviors like exercise and regular consumption of vegetables.