The daughter effect: Can raising daughters improve the cognitive ability of aging parents? Evidence from China

Amid the global aging population, addressing cognitive decline among the elders has become a critical worldwide concern. China, the country with the largest aged population, has a deep-rooted tradition of family-based care, along with intensified involvement of women in older adults care and its health effects, providing a strong foundation for addressing cognitive issues domestically. This study uses data from 2018 China Family Panel Studies to empirically analyze the impact of raising daughters and its influence on the cognitive level of aging parents. The findings reveal that the presence of daughters by blood tie is significantly associated with enhanced aging parents' cognitive ability, with a pronounced effect in one-child families, which intensifies as the elders age, affirming a "daughter effect" associated with enhanced cognitive ability. The relational presence of daughters exerts a significantly stronger positive influence on aging parents' cognitive health than physical co-residence, with its importance increasing markedly as parents age. Emotional support plays a partial mediating role in the mechanism by which daughters are positively associated with improved cognitive ability of aging parents, and the mediating effect is greater in socially isolated older adults. Regional and gender differences exist, with urban families and aging mothers experiencing stronger associations with the daughter effect. For policy implications, this study highlights a culturally embedded, gender-sensitive pathway to improve cognitive health through daughter-led emotional support-offering low-cost, family-centered strategies to complement public health efforts in aging societies.