Comparative Study on Intergenerational Support for Parents and Parents-in-Law

Wenjuan Zhang, Peking University

Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, this paper make a comparative study on international support in Chinese families for parents of husband and wife respectively. In our paper we employed linear regression model to analyze the gender difference in family intergenerational support resources distribution. Our results suggest that the financial support distribution among parents of husbands and wives is highly related to the economic status of wives and parents, yet the personal care for old parents is based on their health status, and parents of husbands are predominant care receivers. The intergenerational transfer between couples and husbands’ parents is based on altruistic motivation, highly related to the demands for support of both sides. However, the intergenerational transfer between couples and wives’ parents is more likely to be a mutual aid model, financial support for the elderly is highly related to the household helps they currently provide.