How Household Separation and Dispersion Affect the Well-being of Left-behind Parents in Rural China?

Evidence has shown that departure of adult children from households has profound, yet contradictory consequences for left-behind parents’ well-being. This study argues that dispersion, i.e. close or distant separation of households, is the key to understanding the divergent evidence for both positive and negative influence from separation. Drawing on longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018), this study reveals that household separation improves parents’ financial conditions through increased monetary transfers but deteriorates mental health challenges, while physical health remains unaffected. Critically, the spatial dispersion of children shapes these outcomes. Parents with children residing in the same village experience stronger financial and physical health benefits compared to those with children farther away, while this loss of health benefit can be mitigated by regular contacts. The findings highlight families’ adaptive strategies to sustain intergenerational solidarity through spatially dispersed yet mutually supportive ties.