Out-Migration of Young Adults and Living Arrangements of the Elderly in Rural China: The Case of Chaohu

Wenjuan Zhang, Xi'an Jiaotong University
Merril Silverstein, University of Southern California
Zhen Cong, University of Southern California

The out-migration of the young generation has greatly affected the living arrangements of the elderly in rural China. Using data from a sample survey “The well-being of the elderly in Anhui province” conducted in 2001 by the Population Research Institute of Xi’an Jiaotong University in Chaohu city, Anhui province, this paper investigates effects of opportunities for living together, resources for living independently, living preference and health status on living arrangements of elderly including living independently, living with children as well as skip-generational living arrangements. The results indicate that the needs of parents are most important factors, which affect their living arrangements with the children. Old parents show strong preference for living with sons or sons’ children. The out-migration of sons and the existence of juvenile grandchildren of those sons increase opportunities of the elderly living in skip-generational household.