The Role and wellbeing of female family caregivers in the provision of aged care in China

There has been inadequate understanding in the literature of the role of family members in providing aged care in a population experiencing rapid ageing, and the subsequent effects on caregiving family members. Using the data of the China Health and Nutrition Survey, this study examines the involvement in aged care provision at home of Chinese women and investigates the effect of care provision on the wellbeing of female family caregivers. The results indicate that Chinese women are increasingly and more intensively involved in caring for elderly parents at home. Based on the instrumental variable method, this study also demonstrates that caring for parents/parents-in-law at home exerts a clear negative effect on female family caregivers’ wellbeing, though no effect of caregiving on the life satisfaction of female family caregivers was detected. The study suggests that, although provision of formal aged care has been increasing rapidly in recent years in China, the burden of caring for parents on Chinese families has not been relieved. Comprehensive policy support is needed for family caregivers to enhance their wellbeing and improve conditions in caregiving, given that demand for aged care services—family-based or otherwise—will be overwhelming in the coming decades.