Research - ageing, internal migration and health outcomes in China
Research has highlighted the links between ageing, internal migration and health outcomes in China.
Jingwen Zhang from Social Statistics at the University of Manchester recently presented her research at the British Gerontology Conference. The research examines ageing and internal migration in China.
The research found that not only current migration status, but also the timing of migration and the sequence of migration destination, are associated with health in later life.
Migrating in early adulthood is associated with better mental health in later life, whereas internal migrants who subsequently return to rural settings have similar mental health outcomes to rural residents, who have comparably poorer health outcomes.
Migration and health in later life is highly gendered. For example, migrating before marriage has an empowering effect for rural women and they are more likely have better physical and mental health outcomes as they age. For married couples, the relationship between migration trajectories and later-life health for men and women also depends on the migration trajectories of their spouses.
You can read more about the research and findings here: