Heterogeneous Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Health Outcomes among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Five Waves of CHARLS

Abstract

This paper uses data from five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) (N = 37,710) to measure the health of middle-aged and older adults from the four dimensions of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), self-rated health, mental health, and the number of chronic diseases. It uses principal component analysis to construct a comprehensive socioeconomic status (SES) index, and uses negative binomial regression model, generalized ordered logit and linear regression model to test the impact of SES on health and its urban-rural and gender heterogeneity. The study found that SES has a significant positive protective effect on health. High-SES groups have stronger Activities of Daily Living (ADL), better mental health, and better self-rated health, but it is positively related to the number of chronic diseases, mainly reflecting the higher detection rate of high-SES groups; There are significant urban-rural and gender differences in this effect, which has a greater impact on rural and female groups, especially in the mental health dimension. The conclusion of the robustness test is established. This article provides vertical evidence for understanding the health inequality of middle-aged and older adults in China, and then puts forward suggestions in terms of improving rural health security, formulating gender differentiation strategies, and improving screening fairness to promote healthy aging.