How Public Pension and Age Shape the Effects of Intergenerational Support Patterns on Older Adults’ Frailty: Evidence from China

Intergenerational support is an important social convoy for older adults’ well-being and health, but such links may vary by personal and situational characteristics. Guided by the convoy model of social relations, we examined whether and how patterns of intergenerational support predict frailty and the moderating effect of age and pension among older Chinese adults. Using 5,388 adults aged 60 and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2018), we conducted latent profile analysis to explore the patterns of support of older parents. Lagged regression models were used to examine the effects of these patterns on frailty and the moderating effects of public pension and age. Six patterns highlighting the provision and receipt of financial, emotional, and physical support were found. Older adults who were financial reciprocal and physical under-benefiting exchangers had lower levels of frailty than those who were financial over-benefiting and physical under-benefiting exchangers. Public pension and age differences in intergenerational support patterns were identified through simple slope analysis. Financial receivers and physical providers, as well as those who were financial nonexchangers and physical under-benefiting exchangers among urban pensioners, were significantly associated with lower levels of frailty. Additionally, financial nonexchangers/reciprocal and physical under-benefiting exchangers were significantly associated with lower levels of frailty among old and oldest-old individuals (aged 70+). Public pension- and age-specific pathways to intergenerational support patterns may lead to health disparities. Policies and programs to reduce frailty among older people should aim to improve the financial capabilities of both older adults and their children by improving public pension programs and ensure adequate physical care services for older people.