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Article
Economic transition and new patterns of parent-adult child coresidence in urban China
Journal of Marriage and Family
  • Qian Forrest ZHANG, Singapore Management University
Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
12-2004
Abstract

This study uses national data from the 1996 Life History and Social change in Contemporary China survey (N = 3,087) to gauge the effect of the economic transition on parent-adult child coresidence in urban China. Previous studies find that, thanks to state actions, traditional patterns in coresidence persisted in post-Mao urban China. This study still finds high levels of coresidence. China's aging population, coupled with an underdeveloped social security system, means that the traditional role of family will remain strong. It also uncovers three new patterns, however, best explained as caused by changes in the economic realm. First, the coresidence pattern changes over parents' life course, shifting from child-centered to parent-centered as parents age. Second, class differentials begin to emerge, most notably seen in the unique patterns of the entrepreneurial class. Last, gender differentials remain significant, but the tilt toward sons has strengthened.

Keywords
  • aging,
  • Chinese family,
  • class,
  • coresidence,
  • gender,
  • intergenerational relations,
  • intergenerational relations
Identifier
10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00089.x
Publisher
Wiley
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00089.x
Citation Information
Qian Forrest ZHANG. "Economic transition and new patterns of parent-adult child coresidence in urban China" Journal of Marriage and Family Vol. 66 Iss. 5 (2004) p. 1231 - 1245 ISSN: 0022-2445
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/forrest_zhang/2/