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Association between Sense of Belonging and Loneliness among the Migrant Elderly Following Children in Jinan, Shandong Province, China: The Moderating Effect of Migration Pattern

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  • Guangwen Liu

    (Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Shixue Li

    (Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Fanlei Kong

    (Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

Abstract

Background: Driven by accelerating population aging and migration, the number of older migrants has increased rapidly in China. Those who moved to cities to look after grandchildren were referred to as the migrant elderly following children (MEFC). This study aims to examine the relationship between sense of belonging and loneliness and explore the moderating effect of migration pattern among the MEFC in China. Methods: The study included 656 MEFC aged 60 years and above. Loneliness was evaluated by the eight-item University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (ULS-8). Sense of belonging and migration pattern were measured using a self-designed questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to test the proposed association and moderating effect. A margins plot was introduced to illustrate this effect. Results: The average ULS-8 score was 12.82 ± 4.05, revealing a low level of loneliness. A weak sense of belonging was related with a higher level of loneliness (β = 0.096, p = 0.014). Migration pattern was found to exacerbate this association (β = 0.138, p = 0.026), especially for the elderly who migrated across provinces. Conclusions: Sense of belonging was correlated with loneliness, and the moderating role of migration pattern was established. Both policymakers and the adult children of inter-provincial migrant elderly should focus on this special subgroup.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangwen Liu & Shixue Li & Fanlei Kong, 2022. "Association between Sense of Belonging and Loneliness among the Migrant Elderly Following Children in Jinan, Shandong Province, China: The Moderating Effect of Migration Pattern," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4396-:d:787995
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Su, Yaqin & Tesfazion, Petros & Zhao, Zhong, 2018. "Where are the migrants from? Inter- vs. intra-provincial rural-urban migration in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 142-155.
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    3. Min Yang & Martin Dijst & Marco Helbich, 2018. "Mental Health among Migrants in Shenzhen, China: Does it Matter Whether the Migrant Population is Identified by Hukou or Birthplace?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, November.
    4. Theo G. Tilburg & Tineke Fokkema, 2021. "Stronger feelings of loneliness among Moroccan and Turkish older adults in the Netherlands: in search for an explanation," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 311-322, September.
    5. Jolien Klok & Theo G. Tilburg & Bianca Suanet & Tineke Fokkema & Martijn Huisman, 2017. "National and transnational belonging among Turkish and Moroccan older migrants in the Netherlands: protective against loneliness?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 341-351, December.
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    1. Hexian Li & Mingli Pang & Jieru Wang & Jing Xu & Fanlei Kong, 2022. "Effects of Health Service Utilization and Informal Social Support on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among the Internal Migrant Elderly following Children in Weifang, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.

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