Scholarlink

Objective <p>Amid population aging and migration, social isolation among older migrants in megacities has increasingly become a public health challenge. This study explores how grandparental childcare affects social isolation via social participation, and the moderating role of settlement intention in this path, offering a new perspective on older migrants’ social integration.</p> Methods <p>Using survey data of older migrants in Shenzhen, a Chinese megacity, this study applies PROCESS macro Model 4 to test the mediating role of social participation in the association between grandparental childcare and social isolation, and moderated mediation Model 14 to analyze the moderating role of settlement intention in the ‘social participation → social isolation’ association.</p> Results <p>Grandparental childcare frequency is significantly associated with higher LSNS-6 scores (indicating lower social isolation) (<i>β</i> = 2.841, <i>t</i> = 3.018, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). Social participation partially mediates the association between grandparental childcare and social isolation, accounting for 34.53% of the total effect. Settlement intention significantly moderates the association in the second half of the mediating pathway (<i>β</i>=−1.016, <i>t</i>=−2.675, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). Specifically, the strength of the association between social participation and LSNS-6 scores (indicating lower social isolation) was stronger among older migrants without settlement intention (<i>B</i> = 2.222, <i>t</i> = 7.072, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) than among those with settlement intention (<i>B</i> = 1.206, <i>t</i> = 5.376, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01).</p> Conclusions <p>This study shows grandparental childcare alleviates older migrants’ social isolation (as reflected by higher LSNS-6 scores) by enhancing social participation, with settlement intention moderating the link between social participation and social isolation. Notably, temporary residence mentality may strengthen social participation’s positive effect, offering new evidence for explaining migrants’ “cultural barriers.” Future research should examine mediating variables like language ability and cultural identity to inform differentiated social integration policies.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Impact mechanisms of grandparental care on social isolation among older migrants: evidence from a megacity in China

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月27日

查看全文
  • Xinru Li,
  • Jianan Han,
  • Yanan Wang,
  • Chichen Zhang

摘要

Objective

Amid population aging and migration, social isolation among older migrants in megacities has increasingly become a public health challenge. This study explores how grandparental childcare affects social isolation via social participation, and the moderating role of settlement intention in this path, offering a new perspective on older migrants’ social integration.

Methods

Using survey data of older migrants in Shenzhen, a Chinese megacity, this study applies PROCESS macro Model 4 to test the mediating role of social participation in the association between grandparental childcare and social isolation, and moderated mediation Model 14 to analyze the moderating role of settlement intention in the ‘social participation → social isolation’ association.

Results

Grandparental childcare frequency is significantly associated with higher LSNS-6 scores (indicating lower social isolation) (β = 2.841, t = 3.018, P < 0.01). Social participation partially mediates the association between grandparental childcare and social isolation, accounting for 34.53% of the total effect. Settlement intention significantly moderates the association in the second half of the mediating pathway (β=−1.016, t=−2.675, P < 0.01). Specifically, the strength of the association between social participation and LSNS-6 scores (indicating lower social isolation) was stronger among older migrants without settlement intention (B = 2.222, t = 7.072, P < 0.01) than among those with settlement intention (B = 1.206, t = 5.376, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

This study shows grandparental childcare alleviates older migrants’ social isolation (as reflected by higher LSNS-6 scores) by enhancing social participation, with settlement intention moderating the link between social participation and social isolation. Notably, temporary residence mentality may strengthen social participation’s positive effect, offering new evidence for explaining migrants’ “cultural barriers.” Future research should examine mediating variables like language ability and cultural identity to inform differentiated social integration policies.