Education and Occupation as Factors Affecting

Longevity and Healthy of Chinese Elderly 

LI Jianmin

Institute of Population and Development

Nanakai Universitylijianm0075@sina.com

Questions

Why some people are healthier and more longevity than the others in the same cohort?

Are there any differences in life and health among the people who are different in social and economic characteristics?

Aim of this Study

This paper studied the influences of social and economic conditions on the longevity and healthy of Chinese elders.

Considering the availability and consistency of the data, this paper use educational attainments and occupation as the basic indexes to judge the forepassed living conditions of the elderly, because that both education and occupation have the function of social stratification.

Hypothesis

Generally speaking, there are five kinds of factors inflecting people’s life, including:

Biologic or genic factors; Social and economic factors; Scientific and technologic factors; Individual life style and behavior mode; Accidental events.

Time Effects Time is a very important variable in research

of human’s longevity. Compared with time dimension, genic factor is an invariable factor, and the relation of life style and behavior mode and time is not clear or exact, but say the least of it, social and economic factors, scientific and technologic factors, and accident events are all the dependent variables of time.

Figure 1. Age-specific Suvival Ratio for Male Elderly

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

65 70 75 80 85

1982-1990

1990-2000

Figure 2. Age-specific Survival Ratio for Female Elderly

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

65 70 75 80 85

1982-1990

1990-2000

Hypothesis

The more the educational attainments the elderly had, the better the living conditions of their parental families;

The more the educational attainments the elderly had, the better their occupation and the living conditions they have;

Hypothesis

The more the educational attainments the elderly had, the better their occupation and the more the income they had, and then the better the life they have after retirement;

The better the living condition, education and occupation the elderly had, the better medical service they get;

Hypothesis

The better the education and occupation the elderly had, the more advantage their descendants have in their human capital investment and career development, then the living conditions of the elderly are better.

Analytic Framework

Educational attainments and occupation are only two explain variables to be used in analysis directly in this paper because of the limit of the data attainability.

The functions of the other variables in the analytical framework can only be decided by knowledge, as the judge from the hypothesis above.

Analytic Framework for the Relationship betweenEducation /Occupation and Longevity/Healthy of the Elderly

Parental Family

Family

Occupation

+

+

+

+

+

+

Living Condition

Longevity& Healthy

Medical & Medicine

Living Condition

Income

IndividualBehavior

+

Education

Data

The data of “The Healthy Longevity Survey in China” (HLS) by Research Group of Healthy Longevity in China in 1998 and 2000;

The data of censuses of China in 1982,1990,and 2000.

The samples of LHS in 1998 are the elderly aged

80 + who were 64 + in 1982. So the elders aged

64 + in 1982 as the population for the samples

aged 80+ in 1998, because the proportion of the

elders aged 80 and over in 1982 who are still

alive in 1988 is very low.

That means that the start of the analysis is not

the whole born cohorts of the elderly who were

older than 80 in 1998 ,but the cohorts of those

who were still living older than 63 in 1982.

Conversion Standards of Educational Attainments

Years of Schooling Education Attainments

0-2 years Illiteracy & Semi-Illiteracy

3-6 years Primary School

7-9 years Middle School

10-12 years High School

13 years and above College and over

Distributions of the Elderly by Educational Attainments

In HLS and Census of China (%)

Educational

Attainments

Male Elderly Aged 80+ Female Elderly Aged 80+

HLS1998

HLS2000

Census2000

LHS1998

LHS2000

Census2000

Illiteracy&Semi-Illiteracy 52.32 50.68 50.82 92.06 90.76 87.58

Primary School 30.36 32.60 37.53 4.90 6.25 10.74

Middle School 7.16 7.01 7.83 1.25 1.44 1.00

High School 4.66 5.36 2.57 1.08 0.99 0.45

College and above 5.50 4.34 1.26 0.71 0.56 0.23

About occupation:

The definition of occupation used in HLS refers

to the main occupation the elderly concerned

had before 60 years old. Those aged 80-99 in

1998 reached their age of 60 was during the

period 1959-1978. During that period of China

the people rarely had opportunities to change

their jobs, especially for the people who were

50 years old and over.

Methodology

The method applied in this study is cohort analysis,

by which to investigate the differentials in the life

experiences of cohorts.

To calculate the percentage distributions of the

elderly aged 64 + in 1982 and the elderly aged 80 +

in 1998 in the same cohort by educational

attainments and occupations, respectively.

To calculate the ratios of the two distributions by

educational attainments and occupation,

respectively.

For the ratio of distributions by educational attainment

198216,

1998,

xi

xii P

PR

For the ratio of distributions by occupation

198216,

1998,

xj

xjj P

PR

The logic of the methodology is that if no

or litter difference exits among the elderly

who are different in educational

attainments and occupation, two series of

distributions has no or litter difference,

namely the ratio is equal to 1 or close to 1.

Vise versa, it can testify the essential

influences of education and occupation to

survive and longevity.

The Main Events

Experienced by the Elderly

Concerned

1949 1966 1978 1982 19981937

85 +

69 - 7365 - 6924 - 28 36 - 40 53 - 57 85 - 891909-1913

74- 7870 - 7429 - 33 41 - 45 58 - 62 90 - 941904-1908

79 - 8375 - 7934 - 38 46 - 50 63 - 67 95 - 991899-1903

84 - 8880 - 8439 - 43 51 - 55 68 - 72 100 -1041894-1898

89 +44 + 56 + 73 + 105 + -1893

64 - 6860 - 6419 - 23 31 - 35 48 - 52 80 - 84

Year of Birth

1914-1918

Japanese Invade

Found of P.R.China GCR Start GCR End Reform HLS

Main Findings

Observationon the Relationship

between Education and

Longevity/Health

Distribution of Male Elderly Aged 64+ in 1982 and 80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments (percent)

EducationalAttainments

Total Urban Rural

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Illiteracy &Semi-Illiteracy 53.79 52.32 35.04 39.23 59.94 61.05

Primary School 35.29 30.36 41.37 32.42 33.29 28.98

Middle School 7.59 7.16 14.53 9.54 5.31 5.57

High School 2.32 4.66 5.42 6.81 1.30 3.23

College and above 1.02 5.50 3.63 12.00 0.16 1.17

Distribution of Female Elderly Aged 64+ in 1982 and 80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments (percent)

EducationalAttainments

Total Urban Rural

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Illiteracy &Semi-Illiteracy 92.18 92.06 81.77 84.46 94.51 96.34

Primary School 6.24 4.90 13.06 8.70 5.07 2.75

Middle School 0.95 1.25 2.86 2.59 0.33 0.50

High School 0.46 1.08 1.65 2.54 0.08 0.26

College and above 0.16 0.71 0.65 1.71 0.01 0.15

Ratios of Male Elderly 64+ in 1982 and 80+ in1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pr i mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & Over

HLS

Census

Ratios of Female Elderly 64+ in 1982 and80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pr i mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & Over

HLS

Census

Ratios of Urban Male Elderly 64+ in 1982 and80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pr i mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & Over

HLS

Census

Ratios of Urban Female Elderly 64+ in 1982and 80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pr i mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & OverHLSCensus

Ratios of Rural Male Elderly 64+ in 1982 and80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pr i mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & Over

HLS

Census

Ratios of Rural Female Elderly 64+ in 1982and 80+ in 1998 by Educational Attainments

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

I l l i teracy & Semi

Pri mary School

Mi ddl e School

Hi gh School

Col l ege & OverHLSCensus

The Ratios of Distribution of the Male Elderly by Educational Attainments in 1982 and 1998 (1982=1)

Age

in

1982

Educational AttainmentsAge

In

1998

Illiteracy & Semi-

Illiteracy

Primary

School

Middle

School

High

School

College and over

64-68 0.706 1.109 1.375 4.321 14.007 80-84

69-73 0.765 1.107 1.521 4.202 11.836 85-89

74-78 0.805 1.128 1.652 3.980 8.596 90-94

79-83 0.804 1.141 1.886 3.928 10.547 95-99

84-89 0.902 1.124 1.502 1.241 8.222100-10

5

The Ratios of Distribution of the Female Elderly by Educational Attainments in 1982 and 1998 (1982=1)

Age in

1982

Educational AttainmentsAge

in

1998

Illiteracy & Semi-

Illiteracy

Primary

School

Middle

School

High

School

College and over

64-68 0.909 2.982 1.972 1.660 2.848 80-84

69-73 0.919 3.443 2.683 2.115 4.382 85-89

74-78 0.940 3.133 3.165 5.616 5.538 90-94

79-83 0.947 4.141 4.779 7.719 12.164 95-99

84-89 0.973 2.587 1.687 8.994 5.397100-10

5

Distribution of Female Elderly by Their Husbands’ Educational Attainments in 1998 (percent)

Age

Educational Attainments of HusbandIlliteracy & Semi-Illiteracy

Primary School

Middle School

High School

College and over

80-84 54.18 29.56 7.47 4.73 4.07

85-89 61.73 26.53 5.07 3.20 3.47

90-94 59.00 30.87 3.81 4.17 2.15

95-99 67.09 24.87 3.84 2.86 1.38

100-105 67.80 24.60 2.59 2.83 2.18

106+ 69.23 20.51 5.13 2.56 2.56

Total 63.49 26.75 4.28 3.42 2.58

A. Relationship of education and

longevity of the elderly Regardless of male and female among the

different ages, the ratios for illiterate and semi-illiterate distribution are all less than 1, while other education degree’s ratio is all more than 1. It testifies that the higher education degree, the higher probability to survival.

A. Relationship of education and longevity of the elderly

In two distributing ratios, the difference among the male elderly is obvious more than the female. It indicates the influence of education to the male’s life is more than the female.

A. Relationship of education and longevity of the elderly

The female’s life has close correlation with her spouse’s educational attainments, whose influence is even more than her own educational attainments That is because, to the elderly female, her living condition depends on her spouse’s earning capability and social and economic status of the family they married into.

Distribution of Self-rated Satisfaction with Lifeby Years of Schooling

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0y 1-2 y 3-4y 5-6y 7-9y 10-12y 13+y

Very bad

Bad

So-so

Good

Very good

Figure 6. Distribution of Self-rated Health of theElderly by Years of Schooling

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0y 1-2y 3-4y 5-6y 7-9y 10-12y 13+y

Very bad

Bad

So- so

Good

Very good

Correlation Coefficient between Self-rated with Life as

“Very Good” of the Elderly and Their Years of Schooling

Age Group

Urban Male

Urban Female

Rural Male

Rural Female

Total .792 .734 .524 -.526

80-89 .898 .699 .319 -.499

90-99 .852 .059 .567 -.828

100-105 .812 -.017 .766 .071

Correlation Coefficient Between Years of Schooling and Status of Health of the Elderly

Status of health Male Female

Total Urban Rural Total Urban RuralVery good in health .548 .582 -.185 .373 .546 -.559

Have no chronic diseases -.764 -.733 -.406 -.746 -.638 -.456

Fully independent in daily living

-.490 -.224 -.253 .226 .333 -.043

Complete cognitive ability .847 .695 .887 .852 .807 .836

B. Relationship of education and Health of the elderly

As a whole, the relationship of elderly’s education attainments and their self-rated with life, health condition and cognitive ability is positive correlative. But it is not true for elderly in the rural areas, especially for female.

For elderly male schooling years is negative correlative to the fully independent in the daily living. That is possibly because the more educated were more engaged in the brainwork while the less educated were more engaged in the physical work.

Observationon the Relationship

between Occupation and

Longevity

Distribution of Male Elderly Aged 64+ in 1982 and 80+ in 1998 by Occupation (percent)

Occupation

Total Urban Rural

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Administrator 1.16 6.45 6.43 12.60 0.29 2.43

Professional and technical 1.94 8.59 7.70 16.68 0.76 3.29

Industrial worker 2.84 12.36 8.28 23.60 1.55 5.01

Commercial and service worker

7.05 13.89 16.37 19.81 3.27 10.01

Peasant 86.98 56.4 51.12 23.67 94.12 77.83

Other 0.02 2.31 0.09 3.64 0.00 1.43

Distribution of Female Elderly Aged 64+ in 1982 and 80+ in 1998 by Occupation (percent)

OccupationTotal Urban Rural

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Cens.

1982

HLS

1998

Administrator 0.57 0.95 5.09 2.39 0.03 0.31

Professional and technical 0.67 2.66 4.17 6.91 0.32 0.78

Industrial worker 2.03 4.63 4.50 12.31 0.75 1.25

Commercial and service worker

4.44 8.81 30.40 19.93 1.31 3.90

Peasant 92.28 81.16 55.78 54.12 97.67 93.09

Other 0.01 1.79 0.07 4.34 0.00 0.66

Ratios of Distributions of Elderly Aged 60-64 in 1982 and 80-84 in 1998 by Occupation (1982=1)

OccupationTotal Urban Rural

Male Female Male Female Male Female

Administrator 3.331 0.584 1.344 0.201 3.801 0.703

Professional and technical

4.584 2.192 2.188 0.839 3.375 2.183

Industrial worker 3.844 2.889 2.050 1.498 2.946 1.270

Commercial and service worker

2.418 2.110 0.887 0.869 4.012 2.003

Peasant 0.557 0.791 0.400 0.876 0.823 0.938

Other 50.895 78.780 14.785 24.797 160.42 138.35

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

As the whole, the higher occupation status the old male engaged in before, the higher their survival probability to longevity. If we neglect the group of “others”, “professional and technician” has the highest survival ratio, and then worker and administrator, and the survival ratio for peasants is the lowest.

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

As the whole for female, neglecting the group of “others”, worker has the highest survival ratio, and then professional and technician, and peasants have the lowest.

The most deservingly noticed a phenomenon is that no matter who are in urban or rural, administrators have the lowest survival probability to longevity.

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

There is much difference in survival ratios for different group of old people between the urban and the rural.

For male in urban, the highest survival ratio belongs to professional, technician and industrial workers, the ratio for commercial and service workers is the lowest.

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

For female in rural, people engaged in commercial service has the highest survival ratio, and then administrator and professional and technician.

For male elderly, the diversity of occupation distribution ratios is more than that within old female, which means the influence that occupation stratification makes on survive for male elderly is more than that for female elderly.

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

In all categories, the old belong to the group of “others” have the highest survival probability. However, we still should considerately look on this result, because we still don’t know the detail conditions of the two “others” categories in the census of 1982 and LHS of 1998.

C. Relationship of Occupation and Longevity of the elderly

The influence of spouse’s occupation on survival probability to advanced age for female is more notable. It is observed that female whose husband engaged in administrative has the highest survival probability, and then the wife of professional and technician. That means the occupation of husband is a very important factor for wife’s life.

Conclusion

In this paper we proved that social and economic factors could make much importance on people’s longevity and health, in this point, education and occupation are two important explaining variables.

This research shows that the higher people’s education degree, the higher whose occupation has the rank in occupation stratification, and the higher their survival ratio is.

While for China’s current old female, their husbands’ education degree and occupation make more notable influences on their health and longevity.

Actually, education and occupation are not direct factors affecting people’s health and lifespan; they must apply force through other approximate variables. For example, education can not only enhance people’s income-earning abilities, also can increase people’s knowledge and understanding on health, and also the abilities of using medical treatment conditions. These factors all can enhance the health of people and their families.

Before reform in China, differentials in education attainments and status of occupation implicated the differentials in the rights to have benefits and welfare from national public recourses. In other words, the people who have higher education degree mostly have occupation in formal sector while these people can attain “institutional benefits” and “institutional protection” which cannot be got by the people of informal sectors.

With much influences education and occupation put on people’s health and longevity, we can make sure that the age of Chinese longevity has come, that’s because the opportunities of people’s education and social mobility are enlarged continuously, and also there are rapid developments in social and economic developments in China.

Thank you