Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course
Abstract Parental well-being is linked to the life chances of adult children in later life. Despite accumulated knowledge on the role of children’s education on parental longevity in developed contexts, it remains unknown how children’s education may influence the trajectories of parental physical w...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85570-6 |
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| author | Dan Chen |
| author_facet | Dan Chen |
| author_sort | Dan Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Parental well-being is linked to the life chances of adult children in later life. Despite accumulated knowledge on the role of children’s education on parental longevity in developed contexts, it remains unknown how children’s education may influence the trajectories of parental physical well-being over the aging process, particularly in developing contexts. Using a growth curve model and four-wave data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study examines the association between children’s education and parental physical functioning trajectories as parents age. This study yields several findings. First, adult children’s schooling is negatively associated with the limited physical functioning of older parents. Second, consistent with the cumulative disadvantage perspective, this study confirms the diverging parental health trajectories across different children’s education groups as parents age. The linear rate of decline in parental physical functioning is slower among older adults with better-educated children. Third, the education returns of sons and daughters with regard to their parents’ physical functioning are similar to each other, implying the rationale for gender-blind attitudes in parenthood. Fourth, children’s education has a compensatory effect among parents lacking institutional old-age support. The association between children’s education and parental physical functioning is significant among rural older adults only. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-35eb5e3a05964bbba50f3ffdcbbed289 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-35eb5e3a05964bbba50f3ffdcbbed2892025-01-05T12:19:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-85570-6Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life courseDan Chen0School of Public Administration, South China University of TechnologyAbstract Parental well-being is linked to the life chances of adult children in later life. Despite accumulated knowledge on the role of children’s education on parental longevity in developed contexts, it remains unknown how children’s education may influence the trajectories of parental physical well-being over the aging process, particularly in developing contexts. Using a growth curve model and four-wave data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study examines the association between children’s education and parental physical functioning trajectories as parents age. This study yields several findings. First, adult children’s schooling is negatively associated with the limited physical functioning of older parents. Second, consistent with the cumulative disadvantage perspective, this study confirms the diverging parental health trajectories across different children’s education groups as parents age. The linear rate of decline in parental physical functioning is slower among older adults with better-educated children. Third, the education returns of sons and daughters with regard to their parents’ physical functioning are similar to each other, implying the rationale for gender-blind attitudes in parenthood. Fourth, children’s education has a compensatory effect among parents lacking institutional old-age support. The association between children’s education and parental physical functioning is significant among rural older adults only.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85570-6Offspring educationFunctional limitationsCumulative disadvantageEducation gradientChina |
| spellingShingle | Dan Chen Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course Scientific Reports Offspring education Functional limitations Cumulative disadvantage Education gradient China |
| title | Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| title_full | Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| title_fullStr | Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| title_short | Spillover effect of children’s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| title_sort | spillover effect of children s education on parental physical functioning over the life course |
| topic | Offspring education Functional limitations Cumulative disadvantage Education gradient China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85570-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danchen spillovereffectofchildrenseducationonparentalphysicalfunctioningoverthelifecourse |