Comparative analysis of differences in functional ability among older people between urban and rural areas: a cross-sectional study from China.

Abstract

Purpose: The health of older people, especially functional ability, has become a hot topic for scholars in various countries. There is insufficient research on the urban-rural disparity in the functional ability of older people. This study aimed to explore the urban-rural gap in the functional ability of older people and the related influencing factors.

Methods: The data analyzed in this study were collected through a cross-sectional survey conducted in China. Furthermore, binary logistic regression was utilized to assess the relationship between functional ability and the independent variables, and Oaxaca-blinder decomposition was used to explore urban-rural differences in functional ability among older people.

Results: The percentage of urban older people who were functionally robust was 65.9%, which was significantly higher than the rural 40.4%, and the difference was found to be statistically significant (χ² = 274.93, p < .001). Furthermore, our study identified factors affecting the functional ability of older people in urban areas, including age, BMI, education, social participation, and trust. In contrast, for older people in rural areas, in addition to these factors, gender, drinking, and social connection were also found to be factors affecting their functional ability. Moreover, the results of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition showed that the most critical factor influencing the urban-rural differences in functional ability among older people was social participation (26.5%). Besides, education (14.4%), living status (-10.8%), age (7.3%), and trust (-6.9%) likewise influence the urban-rural disparity.

Conclusions: A higher proportion of older people in rural areas have limited functional ability than in urban areas. Moreover, the disparity in social participation levels significantly contributed to the differences in functional ability observed between older adults in urban and rural settings. This study underscores the significance of enhancing the social engagement of older adults, particularly those living in rural communities.