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Productive activities and cognitive decline among older adults in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

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  • Luo, Ye
  • Pan, Xi
  • Zhang, Zhenmei

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between productive activities and cognitive decline among older adults aged 50 years and over in China and whether this relationship varies by gender and urban/rural residence using a sample of 13,596 respondents from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Results from Generalized Estimation Equations show that caring for grandchildren, caring for a spouse, informal helping and formal volunteering are associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline over a two-year period. In addition, the types of productive activities that are most beneficial for cognition vary by gender and urban/rural residence. Caring for grandchildren and volunteering are most beneficial for urban women, informal helping is most beneficial for urban men, and paid employment is most beneficial for rural men.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo, Ye & Pan, Xi & Zhang, Zhenmei, 2019. "Productive activities and cognitive decline among older adults in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 96-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:229:y:2019:i:c:p:96-105
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.09.052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Han, Sae Hwang & Roberts, J. Scott & Mutchler, Jan E. & Burr, Jeffrey A., 2020. "Volunteering, polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive functioning among older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    4. Eva Serrat-Graboleda & Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas Aznar & Sara Malo Cerrato & David Cámara Liebana & Marta Roqueta-Vall-Llosera, 2021. "Factors Favoring and Hindering Volunteering by Older Adults and Their Relationship with Subjective Well-Being: A Mixed-Method Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Mirkka Danielsbacka & Lenka Křenková & Antti O. Tanskanen, 2022. "Grandparenting, health, and well-being: a systematic literature review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 341-368, September.
    6. Wen, Sha & Zou, Hong & Xu, Hongwei, 2021. "What doesn't kill you makes you “smarter”: The long-term association between exposure to epidemic and cognition," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    7. Jin Wu & Xi Li & Bo Gao & Xinwei Su, 2020. "The Effects of Serious Leisure Involvement on Subjective Well-Being and Successful Aging: A Case Study of Young-Old Participants in Chinese Seniors’ Universities," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, March.
    8. Wang, Shuhong & Li, Shengxiao (Alex) & Hu, Wanyang, 2022. "Grandparenting and subjective well-being in China: The moderating effects of residential location, gender, age, and income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    9. Eibich, Peter & Lorenti, Angelo & Mosca, Irene, 2022. "Does retirement affect voluntary work provision? Evidence from Europe and the U.S," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Shiming Liao & Ling Qi & Jie Xiong & Jie Yan & Ruoxi Wang, 2020. "Intergenerational Ties in Context: Association between Caring for Grandchildren and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18, December.

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