| Objective:To explore the mechanism of action of upward intergenerational support on the self-rated health status of the elderly with a quantitative research method,aiming to provide theoretical guidance in the enhancement of intergenerational communication and self-rated health status of the elderly.Research on the impact of intergenerational support of the health of the elderly has not yet reached a consensus.Based on the theory of social exchange,this thesis introduces gratitude and sense of debt as intermediate variables to investigate the direct and indirect effects of the intergenerational support on the self-rated health status for the elderly,and understanding the mediating effects of gratitude and sense of debt between upward intergenerational support and self-rated health status.Methods:Firstly,based on the literature research and logical reasoning,the hypotheses and theoretical models to be studied in this thesis were presented.Secondly,selecting the elderly in Beijing as respondents,a questionnaire survey was adopted under convenient sampling method to collect data;finally,a structural equation model was used to verify the proposed hypotheses and the role of mediating variables.Results:(1)Upward intergenerational support has a positive impact on the self-rated health status of the elderly.The standardized path coefficient is 0.352,t value is 3.953,and p<001.Hypothesis one(H1)is true.(2)Upward intergenerational support has positive impact on gratitude,standardized path coefficient is 0.551,t value is 6.084,p<001.Hypothesis two(H2)is true;(3)Upward intergenerational support has a positive impact on the sense of debt,standardized path coefficient is 0.293,and t value is 3.794,P<001.Hypothesis three(H3)is true;(4)Gratitude has a positive effect on the self-rated health status of the elderly,with a standardized path coefficient of 0.500,a t value of 6.306,and p<001.Hypothesis four(H4)is true;(5)The sense of debt has a negative impact on the self-rated health status of the elderly.The standardized path coefficient is-0.257,the t value is-3.803,and p<001.Hypothesis five(H5)in this paper is supported.(6)Gratitude acts as a mediating role between the intergenerational support and the self-rated health status of the elderly,with a mediating effect value of 0.255;(7)The sense of debt plays a part of the mediating role in the relationship between upward intergenerational support and the self-rated health status of the elderly.The mediating effect value is-0.075.Conclusions and recommendations:(1)Through data analysis,it is found that upward intergenerational support has a significant positive impact on the self-rated health status of the elderly,which is also consistent with the conclusions of previous related studies.It shows that the more intergenerational support the elderly received,the greater the probability that their self-rated health status will be good.(2)According to the empirical research,it can be found that if the elderly has a sense of debt after receiving their children’s intergenerational support,it may harm to their self-rated health status.On the contrast,if the elderly has gratitude after receiving this kind of support,it will be a kind of positive promotion of the self-rated health status.Although gratitude and sense of debt are both emotional experiences,the emotional valences of them are different:gratitude is a positive emotional experience,while sense of debt is a negative emotional experience accompanied by discomfort,anxiety,and stress.Therefore,there are differences in the effects of gratitude and sense of debt on the self-rated health status of the elderly.Gratitude can enhance the positive impact of upward intergenerational support on the self-rated health status of the elderly.However,sense of debt may weaken the positive effects,or even lead to negative effects.(3)Analysis of the data in this article shows that upward intergenerational support has a direct positive effect on the self-rated health status of the elderly.At the same time,upward intergenerational support also has an impact on the elderly’s self-assessed health through the intermediary effects of gratitude and sense of debt.In other words,a higher level of upward intergenerational support may have better self-rated health status,and higher upward intergenerational support may also produce a stronger sense of gratitude or debt.If gratitude produced,a higher level of self-assessment obtained;a sense of debt,low level.In order to promote positive and reasonable intergenerational communication and improve the self-assessed health status of the elderly,the elderly themselves should maintain an optimistic attitude,actively communicate with their children.This can adjust the imbalanced information between the two,promoting a harmonious intergenerational relationship.Besides the family,work and life,children should spend more time and pay more attention in caring their parents.A steadily and frequent contact with parents will reduce or even eliminate the sense of debt in the elderly.The contact can also makes the elderly more correctly understand the intergenerational support of their children,maintaining a positive attitude towards life.The communities and related social institutions can hold psychological lectures regularly to guide the elderly to reasonably understand the intergenerational support given by their children and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude. |
