Grandchild care and the living apart together of elderly couples

A qualitative study from rural central China

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8132756
AutoresTangmei Weng (Henan Normal University), Hang Song (0000-0002-8154-2260, Zhengzhou University, autor de correspondencia), Haoyu Song (0009-0003-5040-4652, Zhengzhou University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2026
Páginas1-14
Fecha de publicación2026-03-10
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1091-1359 • E-ISSN: 1540-3556
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10911359.2026.2642116
OpenAlexW7134914103
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas12

Intergenerational childcare remains prevalent in Chinese families. However, under pressures such as urban dual-income households, scarce childcare services, and housing constraints, rural elderly couples increasingly adopt a “Living Apart Together” (LAT) arrangement: women migrate to cities for grandchild care while men remain in villages. Through participatory observation in a central Chinese village and in-depth interviews with 13 LAT elderly couples, this study reveals gendered caregiving dynamics. Rural elderly women prioritize their children’s needs, relocating to urban households to provide childcare, perform domestic labor, relinquish authority, and build emotional bonds with grandchildren. Conversely, left-behind men adhere to traditional masculinity, abstaining from caregiving but insisting on economic self-reliance. Their minimal participation in household tasks and self-care often leads to economic hardship and emotional isolation. Despite physical separation, LAT couples sustain marital ties through frequent digital communication. Elderly women act as intermediaries, bridging rural and urban families by exchanging goods and information. The findings underscore family as the core relational unit in Chinese society, where horizontal (spousal) and vertical (intergenerational) bonds are maintained through generational compromises. This LAT phenomenon reflects the coexistence of traditional and modern gender norms—women’s caregiving reinforces intergenerational solidarity, while men’s adherence to conventional roles perpetuates gendered disparities. Ultimately, Chinese families navigate socioeconomic transitions by balancing spatial separation with relational cohesion, demonstrating both adaptability and the endurance of entrenched gender dynamics.

China · Grandchild · Grandparent · Qualitative analysis · Qualitative research · Rural area · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving