Impact of Childhood Rural Residence Experience on Health in Old Age: Evidence from China

The challenge of population aging is currently a pressing global issue, with the health status of elderly individuals playing a critical role in determining whether governments can meet the challenges of this demographic shift. This study analyzes the relationship between childhood rural life experiences and health status in old age in the context of China's underdeveloped rural areas and lagging public services. Specifically, it examines whether childhood educational resources and socioeconomic status play a mediating role in this relationship. Employing data from 2823 elderly individuals in CGSS2021, this paper uses OLS regression to analyze the effect of growing up in a rural area during childhood on health in old age. Additionally, Bootstrap methodology was used to analyze the sequential mediation of childhood educational resources and socioeconomic status. The findings revealed a negative association between growing up in a rural area during childhood and health status in old age, with childhood educational resources and socioeconomic status sequentially mediating this relationship. This study emphasizes the importance of analyzing the impact of growing up in a rural area during childhood on the health of elderly individuals and designing targeted interventions to improve their health and quality of life.