What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to examine how elderly parental support has transformed in rural China due to the one-child policy.

May 28, 2026Journal of Rural Studies0 citationsOpen Access

Ethical Transformation of Elderly Parental Support and Household Responses in Rural China

Key Points

The aim is to examine how elderly parental support has transformed in rural China due to the one-child policy.
Analyzed elderly care strategies in L Village, Anhui Province.
Categorized families based on the number and type of children.
Investigated financial burdens and caregiving responsibilities.
Traditional son-centered support has weakened due to smaller family sizes.
Daughters are playing a more significant role in elderly care.
Different family types show varying patterns in financial and caregiving responsibilities.

Abstract

This study analyzes the ethical transformation and strategies of elderly care in rural China after the implementation of the one-child policy, using a case study of L Village in Anhui Province. The reduction in family size has weakened the traditional “son-centered support” model, and particularly in families under the “1.5-child policy,” daughters are increasingly participating in elderly care. This study categorizes different family types (only child, one son and one daughter, two daughters, three daughters, and multiple children) and examines the division of financial burdens, caregiving responsibilities, and the selection of the funeral host ( 孝子 )．

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