IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ris/adbewp/0730.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The Role of Family Support in the Well-Being of Older People: Evidence from Malaysia and Viet Nam

Author

Listed:
  • Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

    (Rutgers University)

  • Joseph Zveglich, Jr.

    (Asian Development Bank)

  • Khadija Ali

    (Asian Development Bank)

  • Hanna Xue

    (Rutgers University)

Abstract

Demographics in Malaysia and Viet Nam are evolving rapidly, potentially disrupting traditional family support to older people. We estimate a set of Poisson random effects models with panel data from the Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey and the Viet Nam Aging Survey to analyze how living arrangements, marital status, and support from children influence the mental and physical health of older people. In Malaysia, having living children plays an important protective role for both mental and physical health, while living with a son appears to have a protective effect for physical health. Results are similar for Viet Nam, except older women, who are at greater risk of mental and physical health problems, appear to enjoy a greater protective effect for their mental health from a child living nearby than do men. Our analysis underscores the importance of social safety nets for the health of senior citizens living alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & Joseph Zveglich, Jr. & Khadija Ali & Hanna Xue, 2024. "The Role of Family Support in the Well-Being of Older People: Evidence from Malaysia and Viet Nam," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 730, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0730
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.adb.org/publications/family-support-older-people-malaysia-viet-nam
    File Function: Full text
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jayoung Yoon, 2014. "Counting Care Work in Social Policy: Valuing Unpaid Child- and Eldercare in Korea," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 65-89, April.
    2. Chuanchuan Zhang & Xiaoyan Lei & John Strauss & Yaohui Zhao, 2017. "Health Insurance and Health Care among the Mid‐Aged and Older Chinese: Evidence from the National Baseline Survey of CHARLS," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 431-449, April.
    3. Thaneswaran Marthammuthu & Farizah Mohd Hairi & Wan Yuen Choo & Nur Afiqah Mohd Salleh & Noran Naqiah Hairi, 2021. "A Qualitative Investigation on the Roles of Social Support on Physical Activity Behaviour among the Rural-Dwelling Older Women in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Anne Case & Christina Paxson, 2005. "Sex differences in morbidity and mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 42(2), pages 189-214, May.
    5. Takashi Oshio & Satoshi Shimizutani & Aiko Kikkawa, 2024. "Health Capacity to Work among Older Japanese Persons," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 41(01), pages 95-120, March.
    6. Makiko Hori & Yoshinori Kamo, 2018. "Gender Differences in Happiness: the Effects of Marriage, Social Roles, and Social Support in East Asia," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(4), pages 839-857, December.
    7. Li, Qin & Smith, James P. & Zhao, Yaohui, 2023. "Understanding the effects of widowhood on health in China: Mechanisms and heterogeneity," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    8. Jane K L Teh & Nai Peng Tey & Sor Tho Ng, 2014. "Ethnic and Gender Differentials in Non-Communicable Diseases and Self-Rated Health in Malaysia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-8, March.
    9. Ken Yamada & Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan, 2015. "Living Arrangements and Psychological Well-Being of the Older Adults After the Economic Transition in Vietnam," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(6), pages 957-968.
    10. Xinxin Chen & John Giles & Yafeng Wang & Yaohui Zhao, 2018. "Gender Patterns of Eldercare in China," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 54-76, April.
    11. Man Thi Hue Vo & Keiko Nakamura & Kaoruko Seino & Thang Van Vo, 2021. "Greater Risk of Negative Health Outcomes of Older Adults Living Alone in Vietnam: A Community Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.
    12. Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan & Pothisiri, Wiraporn & Long, Giang Thanh, 2015. "How do living arrangements and intergenerational support matter for psychological health of elderly parents? Evidence from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 136, pages 106-116.
    13. Hessel, Philipp, 2016. "Does retirement (really) lead to worse health among European men and women across all educational levels?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 19-26.
    14. Egidio Riva & Mario Lucchini & Carlotta Piazzoni, 2022. "The effect of job quality on quality of life and wellbeing in later career stages: A multilevel and longitudinal analysis on older workers in Europe," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 1993-2015, August.
    15. Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers & Joseph E. Zveglich, 2021. "Gender Differences in Access to Health Care among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 38(02), pages 59-92, September.
    16. Mason, Andrew & Kinugasa, Tomoko, 2008. "East Asian economic development: Two demographic dividends," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(5-6), pages 389-399.
    17. Long Thanh Giang & Aiko Kikkawa & Donghyun Park, 2024. "Health Capacity to Work among Older Adults in Viet Nam," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 41(01), pages 195-225, March.
    18. Xiaoyan Lei & John Strauss & Meng Tian & Yaohui Zhao, 2015. "Living arrangements of the elderly in China: evidence from the CHARLS national baseline," China Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 191-214, September.
    19. Yasuyuki Sawada & Aiko Kikkawa, 2024. "Special Issue on Health Capacity to Work among Older Persons in Asia," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 41(01), pages 1-3, March.
    20. Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers & Joseph E. Zveglich, 2021. "Gender Differences in Access to Health Care among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 38(02), pages 59-92, September.
    21. Norma Mansor & Halimah Awang & Donghyun Park, 2024. "Health Capacity to Work among Older Malaysians," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 41(01), pages 147-168, March.
    22. Sang-Hyop Lee & Cheol-Kon Park & Hyun Kyung Kim & Donghyun Park, 2024. "Health Capacity to Work at Older Ages in the Republic of Korea," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 41(01), pages 121-145, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Small, Sarah F. & van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana, 2023. "The gendered effects of investing in physical and social infrastructure," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Pataporn Sukontamarn & M. Niaz Asadullah & Nopphawan Photphisutthiphong & Yen Thi Hai Nguyen, 2023. "Happiness in Old Age: The Daughter Connection," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1729-1757, June.
    3. Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers & Joseph E. Zveglich, 2021. "Gender Differences in Access to Health Care among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 38(02), pages 59-92, September.
    4. Feng, Lyubing & He, Yuxi & Zhan, Peng, 2023. "Economic independence and living arrangements of older women with agricultural Hukou in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    5. repec:ags:ijag24:344591 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Thomas Leoni, 2011. "Fehlzeitenreport 2011. Krankheits- und unfallbedingte Fehlzeiten in Österreich," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 42691, June.
    7. Quitterie Roquebert & Jonathan Sicsic & Thomas Rapp, 2021. "Health measures and long-term care use in the European frail population," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(3), pages 405-423, April.
    8. Pedro Albarran Pérez & Marisa Hidalgo Hidalgo & Iñigo Iturbe-Ormaetxe Kortajarene, 2017. "Schooling and adult health: Can education overcome bad early-life conditions?," Working Papers. Serie AD 2017-09, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    9. Andrea M. Mühlenweg & Franz G. Westermaier & Brant Morefield, 2016. "Parental health and child behavior: evidence from parental health shocks," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 577-598, September.
    10. P. V. Asharani & Jue Hua Lau & Kumarasan Roystonn & Fiona Devi & Wang Peizhi & Saleha Shafie & Sherilyn Chang & Anitha Jeyagurunathan & Chua Boon Yiang & Edimansyah Abdin & Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar & C, 2021. "Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, September.
    11. Nabanita Datta Gupta & Mona Larsen, 2010. "The impact of health on individual retirement plans: self‐reported versus diagnostic measures," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(7), pages 792-813, July.
    12. Yan Li, 2023. "Motherhood Dilemma and Gendered Well-being among Chinese Couples," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(6), pages 3169-3198, December.
    13. Mattia Filomena & Matteo Picchio, 2023. "Retirement and health outcomes in a meta‐analytical framework," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 1120-1155, September.
    14. Martin Gaechter & Peter Schwazer & Engelbert Theurl, 2012. "Stronger Sex but Earlier Death: A Multi-level Socioeconomic Analysis of Gender Differences in Mortality in Austria," DANUBE: Law and Economics Review, European Association Comenius - EACO, issue 1, pages 1-23, March.
    15. Timothy Halliday, 2006. "The Impact of Aggregate and Idiosyncratic Income Shocks on Health Outcomes: Evidence from the PSID," Working Papers 200606, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    16. Qunyong Wang & Zhongwu Li & Xueliang Feng, 2019. "Does the Happiness of Contemporary Women in China Depend on Their Husbands’ Achievements?," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 710-728, December.
    17. Jiang, Yawen & Ni, Weiyi, 2020. "Impact of supplementary private health insurance on hospitalization and physical examination in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    18. Yumei Zhu & August Österle, 2019. "China's policy experimentation on long‐term care insurance: Implications for access," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 1661-1674, October.
    19. Hanwei Li & Dongling Xu & Xin Hao, 2021. "Will Delayed Retirement Affect the Health of Chinese Workers? A Study from the Perspective of Sustainability of Physical Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    20. Mitra, Sophie & Gao, Qin & Chen, Wei & Zhang, Yalu, 2020. "Health, work, and income among middle-aged and older adults: A panel analysis for China," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    21. Simon Jean-Baptiste Combes & Nathalie Simonnot & Fabienne Azzedine & Abdessamad Aznague & Pierre Chauvin, 2019. "Self-Perceived Health among Migrants Seen in Médecins du Monde Free Clinics in Europe: Impact of Length of Stay and Wealth of Country of Origin on Migrants’ Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; well-being; physical health; depression; gender; women; aging;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0730. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Orlee Velarde (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/eradbph.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.