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A latent class analysis of health lifestyles and health outcomes among Chinese older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2020

Li Zhang Open the ORCID record for Li Zhang [Opens in a new window]
Li Zhang*
Affiliation:
School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China
*
*Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Prior analyses have repeatedly documented the association between individual health behaviours and health outcomes. Nonetheless, few studies have taken a health lifestyle theory approach to examine how health lifestyle behaviours have shaped Chinese older adults’ health status. Using the most recent 2011–2012 data released by the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), latent class analysis was applied to identify predominant health lifestyles among Chinese older adults aged 65–105. Four distinct classes representing health lifestyles emerged. Furthermore, the research found the way in which the four classes representing older adults’ health lifestyles can be predicted by the respondent's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. In addition, health lifestyles were found to be strongly associated with Chinese older adults’ health outcomes which were measured by self-rated health, functional independence, cognitive function and chronic diseases, even after controlling for demographic features as well as individual and parental socio-economic disadvantage. Findings supported the cumulative disadvantage theory in health. The research highlighted the importance of promoting health lifestyles to improve older adults’ health outcomes.

Keywords

health lifestylessocio-economic statuslatent class analysisChinese older adultsChinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS)
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , February 2021 , pp. 313 - 338
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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