title: Trajectory of physical health, cognitive status, and psychological well-being among Chinese elderly.
abstract: This study investigates the trajectory of various dimensions of health status among the Chinese elderly in their late years. We used growth-curve analyses on a subsample (n≈2000) of the elderly from the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS) who had longitudinal information from 1998 to 2005. Analyses controlled for a large set of individual and family characteristics. Our findings indicate that elderly who had relatively advantaged childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and who regularly engaged in physical and/or leisure activities had significantly healthier well-being than their respective counterparts on all dimensions considered. In addition, regularly participating in physical and/or leisure activities was associated with slow deterioration of health well-being among the Chinese elderly. The results indicate the potential benefits of engaging in physical and/or leisure activities, and consequently, the importance of implementing programs that promote such activities among elders in China.
authors.affiliation: New York University, Silver School of Social Work, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA. Electronic address: wjh3@nyu.edu.
authors.forename: Wen-Jui
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: New York University, Silver School of Social Work, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Tazuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibusawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008136:Longevity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Aging; CLHLS; China; Elderly; Growth-curve analysis; Longitudinal study