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Abstract
This study aims to (1) examine the association of living arrangements and health among
oldest-old Chinese, and (2) investigate gender differences in the association of living
arrangements and health. Data were from the first two waves of the Chinese Longitudinal
Healthy Longevity Survey, which included 9093 Chinese averaging 92 years old. Living
arrangements had six mutually exclusive categories: living alone, with spouse, with
children, with spouse and children, with others and in institutions. Using multinomial
logistic regression, we found that baseline living arrangements are significantly
associated with mortality, activities of daily living (ADL) disability, and self-rated
health at Wave 2, controlling for baseline health, sociodemographic characteristics
and availability of children. Further, the linkages between living arrangements and
mortality vary by gender. Among the different living arrangements, having a spouse
in the household (either with a spouse only or with both a spouse and children) provides
the best health protection. Living alone and living with children are associated with
both health advantages and disadvantages. Institutional living lowers mortality risk
for men but not women. Living with others provides the least health benefits. Our
study has extended the research on living arrangements and health to a unique population-the
oldest-old in China-and clarified the health advantages and disadvantages of different
living arrangements. Future research should examine the mechanisms linking living
arrangements and health, and the experience of institutional living for men and women
in China.