Life Course Risk and Protective Factors of Multimorbidity Resilience among Older Adults in Rural China: A Longitudinal Study in Anhui Province

JIN GUO, Xi'an Jiaotong University
Andrew Wister, Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University
Shuzhuo Li, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Objectives: Multimorbidity resilience reflects older adults’ ability to cope with, adapt to, and rebound from its adverse effects through mobilizing resources. This study revised the multi-domain Multimorbidity Resilience Index referring to the life situations of older adults in rural China to measure the multimorbidity resilience and explore life course influencing factors. Method: This study used the seventh and eighth waves of longitudinal data (2018–2021) collected in Anhui, China. 945 older adults with two or more chronic diseases were selected, and 1,201 (person-year) observations were studied. A mixed linear model examined the effects of early- and later-factors on multimorbidity resilience. Results: Multimorbidity resilience was negatively correlated with age and decreased faster with age after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Married older adults have higher multimorbidity resilience. Exposure to hunger in childhood was associated with lower multimorbidity resilience. Self-reported health before age 15, access to medical resources, and multimorbidity resilience were positively correlated. This study also verified the relationship between multimorbidity resilience and number of chronic diseases, exercise frequency, religious beliefs, self-reported health, and economic satisfaction, among other later-factors. Discussion: The findings will drive policy development from a life course perspective encompassing prevention and follow-up treatment to promote active aging.

Keywords: Health and Morbidity, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations, Longitudinal studies

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