Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

The New Rural Pension Scheme and Family Support and Relationship-Perspectives of Older Adults and Their Children in Rural China

Hui He, Ling Xu and Mihua Xian

Objective: Guided by three theoretical models, this study examined how the formal social insurance policy of the new rural pension scheme (NRPS) in China affected the informal support and relationship between older adults and their adult children as well as among children.

Methods: We conducted interviews for older adults in 20 rural families in the center part of China in 2014. Grounded theory approach was used to delineate the codes or themes.

Results: The results from the qualitative interview showed that although receiving NRPS reduced poverty among the old adults, it brought decreased financial support and change in instrumental support and structural support from their adult children. It also had complex effects on relationships between the older adults and their children as well as among children.

Discussion: These findings indicate that the formal social insurance policy to some extent may disrupt the informal traditional family support for the old adults, which enriches our theoretical and practical understanding of the role and impacts of social insurance in a traditional Chinese cultural context.