Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China

Qishan Zheng; Jianhong Zheng; Yaning Geng

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China

Qishan Zheng, Jianhong Zheng, Yaning Geng

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 6)

Received: 11 October 2022 Accepted: 3 November 2022 Published: 29 November 2022

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Abstract

The emergence of this group of rural left-behind elderly is a problem of social development in China. According to surveys, the number of left-behind elderly in rural China is currently over 16 million and based on the ageing trend of Chinese society, and this number will continue to rise day by day in the foreseeable future. However, there is still a shortage of research and measurement tools about the current state of care services for left-behind elderly in rural areas. Following the scientific procedures for questionnaire development, this study conducted two surveys in 115 villages across five provinces in China and developed a questionnaire on care services for the elderly left behind in rural areas, which was used to survey and analyse a valid sample of 836 of left-behind elderly in rural China. The results were as follows. The questionnaire on care services for rural left-behind elderly contained three factors: national social care, care from offspring, and experience of being cared for. The questionnaire had a good internal consistency reliability of 0.806. The level of care services from offspring and the elderly’s experience of being cared for was relatively good; however, national social care was insufficient. Care services differed significantly depending on the number of children and age; however, sex and marital status differences were not significant. Care services for the left-behind elderly with a larger number of children in rural areas were significantly better than those with a small number of children; furthermore, those for the left-behind elderly in the 60- and 70-year-old groups were significantly better than for those in the over 80-year-old group. This study concludes that although the care service system for the rural left-behind elderly is improving, the overall situation of care services in China is still not very optimistic. Various policies and laws on care services for the left-behind elderly still need to be implemented, and social support and care services in various aspects need to be improved.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
Page(s)	211-218
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Rural China, The Left-Behind Elderly, Care Services, Questionnaire Survey

References

[1]	Yuan, Z. (2015). Study on the care service for the rural left-behind elderly in China [D]. Xinyang Normal University, 2015.
[2]	Ministry of Civil Affairs. (2016) Opinions on strengthening care services for older people left behind in rural areas. Retrieved from http://www.mca.gov.cn/
[3]	Sun, P. (2018). Caring for the elderly left behind in rural areas and building a better new life together, Shaanxi Daily.
[4]	Berry, E. H. (2020). Demographic ageing and rural population change. In Rural Gerontology (pp. 17-28). Routledge.
[5]	Ye, J. & He, C. (2008). The quiet sunset: The elderly left behind in rural China. Social Science Literature Press.
[6]	Li, C. & He, C. (2010). A study of government support for the elderly left behind in rural areas. Journal of China Agricultural University (Social Sciences Edition), 1, 113–120.
[7]	Kreager, P. (2006). Migration, social structure and old-age support networks: A comparison of three Indonesian communities. Ageing and Society, 26 (1), 37–60.
[8]	Zhou, L., Wang, G., Jia, C., & Ma, Z. (2019). Being left-behind, mental disorder, and elderly suicide in rural China: a case–control psychological autopsy study. Psychological medicine, 49 (3), 458-464.
[9]	Miltiades, H. B. (2002). The social and psychological effect of an adult child’s emigration on non-immigrant Asian Indian elderly parents. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 17 (1), 33–55.
[10]	Ke, Y., Jiang, J., & Chen, Y. (2019). Social capital and the health of left-behind older adults in rural China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 9 (11), e030804.
[11]	Wang, S. B. (2011). Introduction to social work (second edn.). Beijing University Press.
[12]	Zhao, M., Zhu, Z., Kong, C., & Zhao, C. (2021). Caregiver burden and parenting stress among left-behind elderly individuals in rural China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 21 (1), 1-6.
[13]	Wang, H. (2010). Construction and innovation of rural home care service system in Ningbo. Ningbo Economy (Sanjiang Forum), 4, 19–21.
[14]	Gopinath, R., & Poornappriya, T. S. (2022). Financial Effect on the left behind elderly Parents due to Migration.
[15]	Wu, Y. (2013). Report on the development of aging in China. Social Science Literature Press.

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APA Style

Qishan Zheng, Jianhong Zheng, Yaning Geng. (2022). Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(6), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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ACS Style

Qishan Zheng; Jianhong Zheng; Yaning Geng. Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(6), 211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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AMA Style

Qishan Zheng, Jianhong Zheng, Yaning Geng. Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(6):211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15,
  author = {Qishan Zheng and Jianhong Zheng and Yaning Geng},
  title = {Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {6},
  pages = {211-218},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221106.15},
  abstract = {The emergence of this group of rural left-behind elderly is a problem of social development in China. According to surveys, the number of left-behind elderly in rural China is currently over 16 million and based on the ageing trend of Chinese society, and this number will continue to rise day by day in the foreseeable future. However, there is still a shortage of research and measurement tools about the current state of care services for left-behind elderly in rural areas. Following the scientific procedures for questionnaire development, this study conducted two surveys in 115 villages across five provinces in China and developed a questionnaire on care services for the elderly left behind in rural areas, which was used to survey and analyse a valid sample of 836 of left-behind elderly in rural China. The results were as follows. The questionnaire on care services for rural left-behind elderly contained three factors: national social care, care from offspring, and experience of being cared for. The questionnaire had a good internal consistency reliability of 0.806. The level of care services from offspring and the elderly’s experience of being cared for was relatively good; however, national social care was insufficient. Care services differed significantly depending on the number of children and age; however, sex and marital status differences were not significant. Care services for the left-behind elderly with a larger number of children in rural areas were significantly better than those with a small number of children; furthermore, those for the left-behind elderly in the 60- and 70-year-old groups were significantly better than for those in the over 80-year-old group. This study concludes that although the care service system for the rural left-behind elderly is improving, the overall situation of care services in China is still not very optimistic. Various policies and laws on care services for the left-behind elderly still need to be implemented, and social support and care services in various aspects need to be improved.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China
AU  - Qishan Zheng
AU  - Jianhong Zheng
AU  - Yaning Geng
Y1  - 2022/11/29
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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EP  - 218
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
AB  - The emergence of this group of rural left-behind elderly is a problem of social development in China. According to surveys, the number of left-behind elderly in rural China is currently over 16 million and based on the ageing trend of Chinese society, and this number will continue to rise day by day in the foreseeable future. However, there is still a shortage of research and measurement tools about the current state of care services for left-behind elderly in rural areas. Following the scientific procedures for questionnaire development, this study conducted two surveys in 115 villages across five provinces in China and developed a questionnaire on care services for the elderly left behind in rural areas, which was used to survey and analyse a valid sample of 836 of left-behind elderly in rural China. The results were as follows. The questionnaire on care services for rural left-behind elderly contained three factors: national social care, care from offspring, and experience of being cared for. The questionnaire had a good internal consistency reliability of 0.806. The level of care services from offspring and the elderly’s experience of being cared for was relatively good; however, national social care was insufficient. Care services differed significantly depending on the number of children and age; however, sex and marital status differences were not significant. Care services for the left-behind elderly with a larger number of children in rural areas were significantly better than those with a small number of children; furthermore, those for the left-behind elderly in the 60- and 70-year-old groups were significantly better than for those in the over 80-year-old group. This study concludes that although the care service system for the rural left-behind elderly is improving, the overall situation of care services in China is still not very optimistic. Various policies and laws on care services for the left-behind elderly still need to be implemented, and social support and care services in various aspects need to be improved.
VL  - 11
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Author Information

Qishan Zheng

Department of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China
Jianhong Zheng

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Development and Education for Special Needs Children, Zhanjiang, China
Yaning Geng

Department of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

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APA Style

Qishan Zheng, Jianhong Zheng, Yaning Geng. (2022). Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(6), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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ACS Style

Qishan Zheng; Jianhong Zheng; Yaning Geng. Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(6), 211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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AMA Style

Qishan Zheng, Jianhong Zheng, Yaning Geng. Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(6):211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15,
  author = {Qishan Zheng and Jianhong Zheng and Yaning Geng},
  title = {Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {6},
  pages = {211-218},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221106.15},
  abstract = {The emergence of this group of rural left-behind elderly is a problem of social development in China. According to surveys, the number of left-behind elderly in rural China is currently over 16 million and based on the ageing trend of Chinese society, and this number will continue to rise day by day in the foreseeable future. However, there is still a shortage of research and measurement tools about the current state of care services for left-behind elderly in rural areas. Following the scientific procedures for questionnaire development, this study conducted two surveys in 115 villages across five provinces in China and developed a questionnaire on care services for the elderly left behind in rural areas, which was used to survey and analyse a valid sample of 836 of left-behind elderly in rural China. The results were as follows. The questionnaire on care services for rural left-behind elderly contained three factors: national social care, care from offspring, and experience of being cared for. The questionnaire had a good internal consistency reliability of 0.806. The level of care services from offspring and the elderly’s experience of being cared for was relatively good; however, national social care was insufficient. Care services differed significantly depending on the number of children and age; however, sex and marital status differences were not significant. Care services for the left-behind elderly with a larger number of children in rural areas were significantly better than those with a small number of children; furthermore, those for the left-behind elderly in the 60- and 70-year-old groups were significantly better than for those in the over 80-year-old group. This study concludes that although the care service system for the rural left-behind elderly is improving, the overall situation of care services in China is still not very optimistic. Various policies and laws on care services for the left-behind elderly still need to be implemented, and social support and care services in various aspects need to be improved.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Questionnaire Development and Current Situation Investigation of Care Services for the Left Behind Elderly in Rural China
AU  - Qishan Zheng
AU  - Jianhong Zheng
AU  - Yaning Geng
Y1  - 2022/11/29
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 211
EP  - 218
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221106.15
AB  - The emergence of this group of rural left-behind elderly is a problem of social development in China. According to surveys, the number of left-behind elderly in rural China is currently over 16 million and based on the ageing trend of Chinese society, and this number will continue to rise day by day in the foreseeable future. However, there is still a shortage of research and measurement tools about the current state of care services for left-behind elderly in rural areas. Following the scientific procedures for questionnaire development, this study conducted two surveys in 115 villages across five provinces in China and developed a questionnaire on care services for the elderly left behind in rural areas, which was used to survey and analyse a valid sample of 836 of left-behind elderly in rural China. The results were as follows. The questionnaire on care services for rural left-behind elderly contained three factors: national social care, care from offspring, and experience of being cared for. The questionnaire had a good internal consistency reliability of 0.806. The level of care services from offspring and the elderly’s experience of being cared for was relatively good; however, national social care was insufficient. Care services differed significantly depending on the number of children and age; however, sex and marital status differences were not significant. Care services for the left-behind elderly with a larger number of children in rural areas were significantly better than those with a small number of children; furthermore, those for the left-behind elderly in the 60- and 70-year-old groups were significantly better than for those in the over 80-year-old group. This study concludes that although the care service system for the rural left-behind elderly is improving, the overall situation of care services in China is still not very optimistic. Various policies and laws on care services for the left-behind elderly still need to be implemented, and social support and care services in various aspects need to be improved.
VL  - 11
IS  - 6
ER  -

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