Typologies of Informal Care Networks for Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Functional Difficulties in China: A Multidimensional Perspective

Introduction: This study aims to examine informal care networks for aging adults with functional disabilities in China by exploring caregivers within broader social relationships. It further investigates the multifaceted determinants of care network typologies across individual, household, and policy dimensions.

Materials and Methods: Data were derived from the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2020. The total sample comprised 3323 participants aged 50 years and older with functional difficulties. Latent class analysis was employed to identify the typologies of informal care networks. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the multifaceted determinants of these network typologies.

Results: This study identified four distinct typologies of informal care networks: nonkinship care network (4.42%), children-centered care network (54.41%), mixed kinship care network (5.12%), and spouse-centered care network (36.05%). Findings revealed that care recipients with greater limitations in IADL were more likely to have children-centered, mixed kinship, or spouse-centered care networks, as opposed to nonkinship network. In addition, a larger family size was associated with a greater likelihood of having children-centered and mixed kinship networks. Moreover, household internet connectivity and enrollment in public pension schemes were linked to increased probability of receiving care from children-centered network.

Discussion and Conclusion: This study investigates broader relationship patterns involved in informal caregiving for older adults with functional difficulties, extending beyond a dyadic perspective. By highlighting the complexity of care provision structures, this study offers insights for establishing more diverse and inclusive care networks. Adopting a multidimensional perspective, it examines the individual, household, and policy components associated with the typologies of informal care networks. These determinants enhance our understanding of the nuanced dynamics of caregiving, tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of care recipients.