Do Remittances Enhance Elderly Adults’ Healthy Social and Physical Functioning? A Cross-Sectional Study in Nigeria

Abstract

Existing research demonstrates that the effect of remittances on different health outcomes of elderly adults in low-income countries with inadequate social security is inconclusive. The present study set out to fill this gap by examining the effects of receiving remittances on the healthy social and physical functioning of Nigeria’s elderly adults. We also investigate the nonlinear association between remittances and social and physical functioning to identify the minimum amount required to engender healthy social and physical functioning in Nigerian elderly adults. This study utilized data from the 2018/2019 Nigerian Living Standard Survey (NLSS), which included 55,350 young people aged 12–44 (control group) and 18,937 elderly adults aged 45 and above (treatment group). We addressed our objectives using logistic regression-adjusted predicted probabilities and predictive margins. The results reveal that remittance recipients have higher healthy social functioning probabilities than non-recipients. We also found that the influence that remittances have on social functioning depends on the amount of the remittances received. Quantitatively, receiving more than NGN 1,200,000 in remittances ensures increased social functioning probabilities. Given the disparity between the average remittance amount of NGN 54,306.92 received by elderly adults and the NGN 1,200,000 threshold associated with healthy social functioning, bridging this gap is paramount for promoting social functioning among Nigerian elderly adults. We also discussed policy implications for fostering the healthy aging of the population in the interim.

Physical and Mental Well-being of the Elderly: Examining the Impact of Financial Support from Migrant Children on Indian Left-behind Parents

“…However, nancial support sent by migrants (remittances) to their families is vital in enhancing the quality of life, as extra cash smoothens the consumption-expenditure pattern and alleviates household poverty (19). Along with improving the household economic status, remittances also improve the health status of family members through increased food supply, medical expenditure, and access to healthcare services (20)(21)(22). Literature suggests that when there is a continuous ow of remittances from adultchild migration, there are notable improvements in nutrition, reduced morbidity, and lower mortality rates among left-behind older adults.…”

“…Literature suggests that when there is a continuous ow of remittances from adultchild migration, there are notable improvements in nutrition, reduced morbidity, and lower mortality rates among left-behind older adults. For instance, studies based on Nigeria (21) and China ( 22) also show that an increment of income among temporary internal migrants plays a signi cant role in promoting both physical and mental health outcomes not only for migrants but also for their family members, including elderly parents who stayed behind at home. In this context, studies in India show that the migration of adult children has a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of left-behind older people.…”