From Social Ties to Financial Stability in Later Life: Understanding the Imperatives of Economic Integration for the Self-rated Health of Older Migrants

Abstract Older migrants are a particularly vulnerable demographic because they face the dual challenges of aging and disruptions from migration. Integration into host societies thus bears particular importance for older migrants’ health, which may differ from that of younger migrants. Existing studies often emphasize social integration alone while overlooking the multifaceted nature of integration. Another gap remains regarding the relative importance of various types of integration for the self-rated health (SRH) of older migrants. This study aims to compare the associations between four types of integration (economic, cultural, social, and political) and the SRH of Chinese older migrants. It also explores how these associations differ between older and younger migrants and among various older migrant subgroups. Using data from the 2017 China Migrant Dynamic Survey (N = 3,131) and regression analyses, the findings reveal that the financial stability provided by economic integration plays the most critical role in older migrants’ SRH, particularly for small business owners, casual laborers, those from rural origins, and low-income households. Economic integration is also more significant for older migrants’ SRH than for younger migrants. This contrasts with prior studies emphasizing social integration. The findings highlight the need to expand social security coverage and implement targeted financial and employment support for vulnerable older migrants.