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Losing children and mental well-being: evidence from China

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  • Qianping Ren
  • Maoliang Ye

Abstract

This article explores the impact of losing a child, especially losing all children (including losing the only child), on the mental health, happiness and loneliness of parents. The Chinese government has implemented strict restrictions on the number of births for each family since the 1970s, resulting in the creation of millions of only-child families. Using the 2011 baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we find that the bereavement of a child is associated with lower levels of mental health and happiness and higher levels of loneliness for the parents, even after we adjust for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The effects are significantly stronger for losing all the children. Results have strong implications for the population-control, elderly-care and mental-care policies especially in China and developing countries, where the social security system is not yet sound.

Suggested Citation

  • Qianping Ren & Maoliang Ye, 2017. "Losing children and mental well-being: evidence from China," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(12), pages 868-877, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:24:y:2017:i:12:p:868-877
    DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2016.1237732
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lei, Xiaoyan & Smith, James P. & Sun, Xiaoting & Zhao, Yaohui, 2014. "Gender differences in cognition in China and reasons for change over time: Evidence from CHARLS," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 4(C), pages 46-55.
    2. Ayalu Aklilu Reda, 2011. "Reliability and Validity of the Ethiopian Version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in HIV Infected Patients," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, January.
    3. Shen, Yuying, 2014. "Community building and mental health in mid-life and older life: Evidence from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 209-216.
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    2. Weng, Yulei & Yang, Xiaocong, 2023. "Fertility behaviors and mid-late-life health status in China: From a life-course perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    3. Dan Chen & Yuying Tong, 2021. "Do Social Timing and Gender Matter to Parental Depression Aroused by Traumatic Experience of Child Bereavement? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Bansak, Cynthia & Dziadula, Eva & Wang, Sophie Xuefei, 2024. "How China's "Later, Longer, Fewer" Campaign Extends Life Expectancy: A Study of Intergenerational Support for Elderly Parents," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1403, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Yanrong Cheng & Jian Lan & Qinying Ci, 2023. "Employment and Mental Health of the Chinese Elderly: Evidence from CHARLS 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Xu, Yanfeng & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2018. "Children's mental health and its predictors in kinship and non-kinship foster care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 243-262.
    7. Meechan, Hannah & John, Mary & Hanna, Paul, 2021. "Understandings of mental health and support for Black male adolescents living in the UK," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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