Pension Demands For Elderly Care Among The Families With Loss Or Disabled Single-Child In The Context Of Population Aging

Objective:From the theoretical perspective of family function,this study aims to understand the current status of family function and its influencing factors among the families with loss or disabled single-child in Yunnan,China.This study also analyzed the pension dilemma and the practical needs of different types of families,and identified the gap between the existing policies and the actual pension needs,so as to put forward targeted pension countermeasures and suggestions.Methods:Using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method,a sample involving 122 families which either experienced death or disability of only child and 164 families whose single-child was healthy in Kunming,Honghe,Chuxiong and Yuxi cities of Yunnan Province was investigated by questionnaire,and in-depth interviews and group discussions were implemented for 59 parents whose single-child is loss/disabled.For quantitative data,independent samples t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for the comparison of the status and differences of the respondents,family functions.Chi-square test and Logistic regression were also used for the analysis of the influencing factors of the respondents,family functions.For qualitative data,thematic frame method was used to sort out and analyze the interview data.Results:1.Current status of respondents’ family functions:① The scores of the GF(2.29),PS(2.33),CM(2.44),RL(2.73),AR(2.50),AI(2.43)and BC(2.67)of the family with loss or disabled single child are all higher than the cut-off scores,indicating that the overall family functions are poor.② Significant differences exist in seven dimensions of family function between loss/disabled-of-single-child family and only-child family(P<0.05),and the differences in RL,AR and BC dimensions are the largest.③ The family functions of loss/disabled-of-single-child family are also different,indicating that the AR of Shi-du family is stronger than that of Du-can family(P=0.027),while the PS of Shi-du family is weaker than that of Du-can family(P=0.025).2.Single-factor analysis of respondents’family functions:① The score of GF is significant in marital status and average monthly family income(P<0.05).② The score of PS is significant in gender,age,marital status,average monthly family income and ill condition of parents(P<0.05).③The score of CM is significant in marital status and average monthly family income(P<0.05).④ The score of RL is significant in residence,marital status and average monthly family income(P<0.05).⑤)The score of AR is significant in age,marital status and average monthly family income(P<0.05).⑥The score of AI is significant in marital status(P<0.05).⑦The score of BC is not significant in gender,age,marital status,average monthly family income and ill condition of parents(P>0.05).3.Multi-factor analysis of respondents’ family functions:① Average monthly family income has an impact on the GF,PS,CM,RL and AR dimensions(P<0.05).Higher monthly family income is associated with lower scores in GF,PS,CM,RL and AR.②Age has an impact on the PS and AR dimensions(P<0.05).Older age is associated with higher scores in PS and AR.③ Residence has an impact on the RL dimensions(P<0.05).Living in urban area is a protective factor for RL.④ Marital status have an impact on the AI dimension(P<0.05),and the AI of married/currently-living-together parents are weaker than that of widowed/divorced/single parents.4.Pension demands of loss/disabled-of-single-child family:① Pension demands of loss/disabled-of-single-child family are mainly focused on primary pension demands,elderly care demands and special pension demands.②The primary pension demands mainly include economic security,daily care and mental consolation.③ The health service demands consist of health care,as well as sexual and reproductive health.④The special pension demands can be classified into two types:one is extended familial demands of loss single-child family,the other is the intergenerational pension demands of disabled single-child family.Conclusions:1.The existing policies to support loss or disabled single-child families in Yunnan Province are mainly focused on the economic subsidy without enough attention to other pension demands.2.According to the multi-factor analysis,the weakening of family function was widespread among families with loss or disabled single-child,which was influenced by multiple factors,such as family monthly income,age and residence.3.Besides essential economic security,daily care,psychological care and medical services,the families with loss or disabled single child are also in urgent need of sexual and reproductive health and respite care.4.The families with loss or disabled single child had different pension demands,which could be divided into many sub-types based on different classification standards.However,each sub-type family may face different plights and family functions,causing the various pension demands.5.The special family pension needs of families with loss or disabled single-child is still satisfied by the family as the core field and the rebuilding of family functions as an important means.Home care,as the preferred option for most elderly Chinese at present,is also rooted in the ideology of parents with lost single child or a disabled child.They also regarded "home" as the ideal place to spend the rest of their lives in peace and quiet.By means of the "family-like" model,these special families benefited from the social support to recover their family functions and meet the needs of elderly parents.