The Effect of Elderly Household The Effect of Elderly Household Members on School Enrollment of Members on School Enrollment of

Children in TibetChildren in Tibet

Barbara A. Anderson*, Cheong-Seok Kim**, Barbara A. Anderson*, Cheong-Seok Kim**, John H. Romani*, John Traphagan*** and John H. Romani*, John Traphagan*** and

Jinyun Liu*Jinyun Liu*

•* University of Michigan* University of Michigan•** Dongguk University** Dongguk University•*** University of Texas*** University of Texas

This paper would not have been possible This paper would not have been possible without :without :

The cooperation of the Tibet Regional Statistics Bureau The cooperation of the Tibet Regional Statistics Bureau and the China National Bureau of Statisticsand the China National Bureau of Statistics

Advice from Qiongda of the Population Institute, Tibet Advice from Qiongda of the Population Institute, Tibet University, and Chen Hua of Yunnan Normal University University, and Chen Hua of Yunnan Normal University

Support from NICHD Center Grant Number P30 HD-Support from NICHD Center Grant Number P30 HD-1003 and NIH/NIA Fogarty Grant TW00857 to the 1003 and NIH/NIA Fogarty Grant TW00857 to the Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, and Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, and NIA Grant P20AGG12846 to the Michigan Exploratory NIA Grant P20AGG12846 to the Michigan Exploratory Center on AgingCenter on Aging

Alternative Hypotheses about Alternative Hypotheses about Effects of Presence of Elderly on Effects of Presence of Elderly on

School EnrollmentSchool Enrollment

William Goode and the conservative effect William Goode and the conservative effect of the elderly on family members of the elderly on family members

Kristen Hawkes and the “Grandmother Kristen Hawkes and the “Grandmother hypothesis”hypothesis”

Summary of FindingsSummary of FindingsPresence of a literate adult in the household, urban residence, Presence of a literate adult in the household, urban residence, and relatively high availability of schools are related to a child and relatively high availability of schools are related to a child attending school. Living in an agricultural household and in a attending school. Living in an agricultural household and in a family engaged in animal husbandry (pastoral nomads) are family engaged in animal husbandry (pastoral nomads) are related to less chance of being in school.related to less chance of being in school.

For both girls and boys, the more brothers, the less likely the child For both girls and boys, the more brothers, the less likely the child is in school. For boys the number of sisters is positively related to is in school. For boys the number of sisters is positively related to school enrollment; for girls, the number of sisters is negatively school enrollment; for girls, the number of sisters is negatively related to school enrollment.related to school enrollment.

Presence of relatives age 60+ has no effect on school enrollment Presence of relatives age 60+ has no effect on school enrollment of boys.of boys.

For girls, males and females over age 70 have no influence or a For girls, males and females over age 70 have no influence or a negative influence on school enrollment. Females in their early negative influence on school enrollment. Females in their early sixties, have a positive relation to school enrollment. sixties, have a positive relation to school enrollment.

Data UsedData Used

Data are from a sample of households for Tibet from the 1995 Mid-Data are from a sample of households for Tibet from the 1995 Mid-Censal Survey of China.Censal Survey of China.

The unit of analysis an ethnic Tibetan child age 10-14. There are The unit of analysis an ethnic Tibetan child age 10-14. There are 7,207 boys in the analysis and 7,225 girls in the analysis.7,207 boys in the analysis and 7,225 girls in the analysis.

The main analysis method is logistic regression analysis. The The main analysis method is logistic regression analysis. The dependent variable is whether the child is enrolled in school in 1995, dependent variable is whether the child is enrolled in school in 1995, with the value 1 if the child is in school and 0 if the child is not in with the value 1 if the child is in school and 0 if the child is not in school.school.

Other characteristics of the child and characteristics of the Other characteristics of the child and characteristics of the household are used as independent variables in the analysis.household are used as independent variables in the analysis.

Characteristics of Tibetan Elderly in Tibet, Characteristics of Tibetan Elderly in Tibet, 19951995

% Population age 60+% Population age 60+ 8%8%

% Age 60+ ever-married% Age 60+ ever-married 90%90%

% Women age 60-64 with at least one surviving child% Women age 60-64 with at least one surviving child 80%80%

% Age 60+ with any schooling% Age 60+ with any schooling 8%8%

% Age 60+ living in household with 2+ generations% Age 60+ living in household with 2+ generations 88%88%

Characteristics of Tibetan Households with Characteristics of Tibetan Households with a Child Age 10-14a Child Age 10-14

Average household size Average household size 7.3 7.3

% Containing a literate adult% Containing a literate adult 60%60%

% Rural% Rural 86%86%

% With a member age 60+ % With a member age 60+ 33%33%

% All children age 10-14 in school% All children age 10-14 in school 40%40%

% Boys age 10-14 in school% Boys age 10-14 in school 48%48%

% Girls age 10-14 in school% Girls age 10-14 in school 32%32%

Logistic Regression Results for Relation of School Logistic Regression Results for Relation of School Enrollment to Child and Household CharacteristicsEnrollment to Child and Household Characteristics

Statistically significant coefficients are underlined.Statistically significant coefficients are underlined.

BoysBoys GirlsGirls

ConstantConstant 4.0914.091 4.6934.693

Age of ChildAge of Child - .258- .258 - .344- .344

Literate Adult in HHLiterate Adult in HH .547.547 .568.568

Rural ResidenceRural Residence -.578-.578 -.944-.944

Animal Husbandry HHAnimal Husbandry HH -2.048-2.048 -2.202-2.202

Agricultural HHAgricultural HH -.823-.823 -1.001-1.001

Teachers per 10,000 Teachers per 10,000 Population in Population in TownshipTownship

.002.002 .001.001

Teachers per 10,000 Teachers per 10,000 Population in CountyPopulation in County

.002.002 .004.004

Number of CasesNumber of Cases 7,2077,207 7,2257,225

Logistic Regression Results of Relation of Presence Logistic Regression Results of Relation of Presence of Other Household Members on School Enrollment of Other Household Members on School Enrollment

of those Age 10-14of those Age 10-14

Child’s age, household characteristics, and availability of schooling are Child’s age, household characteristics, and availability of schooling are included in each model. Statistically significant coefficients are underlined.included in each model. Statistically significant coefficients are underlined.

BoysBoys GirlsGirls

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88

Girls 5-14Girls 5-14 .058.058 .059.059 .059.059 .058.058 -.110-.110 -.108-.108 -.107-.107 -.109-.109

Boys 5-14Boys 5-14 -.099-.099 -.099-.099 -.099-.099 -.099-.099 -.242-.242 -.242-.242 -.241-.241 -.242-.242

Person 60+Person 60+ -.012-.012 -.022-.022 .006.006 -.146-.146 -.217-.217 -.242-.242

Woman 60-64Woman 60-64 .056.056 .049.049 .337.337 .364.364

Woman 65-69Woman 65-69 -.026-.026 .125.125

Man 60-64Man 60-64 -.085-.085 -.026-.026

Man 65-69Man 65-69 -.032-.032 .005.005

Conclusions and ImplicationsConclusions and ImplicationsThe results give some support for both hypotheses. The presence of an The results give some support for both hypotheses. The presence of an elderly person overall has a negative effect on girl’s school enrollment, elderly person overall has a negative effect on girl’s school enrollment, supporting Goode. But if a younger elderly woman is in the household, supporting Goode. But if a younger elderly woman is in the household, girl’s school enrollment is significantly increased, supporting Hawkes.girl’s school enrollment is significantly increased, supporting Hawkes.

An elderly person could inhibit a girl’s school enrollment if household An elderly person could inhibit a girl’s school enrollment if household resources are directed to the elderly person’s care or if the girl were resources are directed to the elderly person’s care or if the girl were substantially responsible for the elderly person’s care. This would be more substantially responsible for the elderly person’s care. This would be more likely if the person were older, and probably less healthy.likely if the person were older, and probably less healthy.

If boys are not expected to help in the care of the elderly or if the schooling If boys are not expected to help in the care of the elderly or if the schooling needs of boys are more important than care of the elderly, the presence of needs of boys are more important than care of the elderly, the presence of elderly persons would not affect a boy’s school enrollment.elderly persons would not affect a boy’s school enrollment.

If a woman in her 60’s contributed labor that would otherwise be expected If a woman in her 60’s contributed labor that would otherwise be expected of a girl, the older woman’s presence would positively affect the girl’s of a girl, the older woman’s presence would positively affect the girl’s enrollment.enrollment.

The more boys in the household, the less likely any given boy is to be in The more boys in the household, the less likely any given boy is to be in school. Thus, even if households value schooling for boys more than for school. Thus, even if households value schooling for boys more than for girls, there is still a decision about which boys will attend school.girls, there is still a decision about which boys will attend school.