Old age support in China: The role of the state and the family

This study investigates the relationship between some support factors and t he well-being of the elderly in China. The analytical models identify and c ompare the effects of each type of factor on the sense of well-being of eld erly Chinese across rural and urban settings. Pension, health care, size of family, and living arrangements are the factors found to be significantly related to the perception of happiness among aged people in general. The st rength of the effects of children and living arrangements varies depending on places of residency. The findings indicate the continuous role of the fa mily support, and the increasingly important role of state support in promo ting a sense of well-being among elderly Chinese.