Heterogeneity, Family Support and Mortality at Advanced Age in China——an application of frailty models

gamma-Gompertz frailty models indicate the heterogeneity of mortality both in male and female at advanced age in China; while female have a larger individual heterogeneity. In general, male show higher mixture mortality than female from 80 to 115 years old, however, female mortality starts to exceed male since about 96 years old controlling for their heterogeneity respectively. The married mostly elderly in male tend to have lower hazard rate by 32% compared to those without spouses. Proximity to children of male oldest of the old has a positive relationship with mortality only after controlling the health behaviors and condition variables, as the direct and indirect effect of proximity to children on mortality can be decomposed. Neither of the two family support factors affects the hazard rate in female. The gender differentials of dependence on spouses and children in term of social connections and support, selective effect of living arrangement related to health condition, role expectancy as well as health behaviors may together contribute to the above phenomenon.