Socioeconomic status, childbearing and health as determinants of aging concerns across the life course in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: In the current era of population aging, everyone should be well-prepared and maintain a positive attitude towards aging. However, it remains unclear how socioeconomic status, health and childbearing shape aging concerns among Chinese adults of different age groups. This study examined whether these factors can alleviate aging concerns among young, middle-aged and older people. Methods: This study utilized data from the Chinese General Social Survey of 2021, which employed multistage stratified sampling to ensure representativeness and included 2,717 respondents. Aging concerns were measured using a five-point Likert scale, and hierarchical regression models were applied to assess the effects of key variables. Results: Middle-aged individuals reported the highest level of aging concerns (M = 3.46), compared to young (M = 3.34) and older individuals (M = 3.34). Respondents who perceived themselves as healthier expressed fewer concerns about aging in all age groups (β = −.242 to −.165, P