Adult children labour migration and parent health: evidence from Indonesian panel data

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of adult child labour migration on the health of parents and the possible mechanism that contributes to the health of families left behind. Design/methodology/approach Several indicators of parents’ health are analysed and several subgroups – parents of migrant sons, parents of migrant daughters, parents aged 50+ and parents who live in rural areas are investigated. The data from Indonesia Family Life Survey are used and the fixed effects method is used to address potential endogeneity and instrumental variables are applied in the sensitivity analysis. Findings The labour out-migration of adult children has a positive and significant association with the health status of the parent left behind. The parents of migrant children are more likely to have a better self-rated health status, fewer episodes of morbidity symptoms, fewer unhealthy days, fewer visits to outpatient care and are less likely to be on medication than the parents of non-migrant children. Research limitations/implications The study design in a longitudinal setting, however, there is a relatively many years gap between waves could provide insufficient statistical power for measuring health variations. Future studies should consider to explore possible health outcomes for parents who co-resided with an adult child and the types and severity of various disease conditions. Practical implications Highlights challenges in health-care provision for older people in Indonesia and the possible contribution of health disparities in developing countries. Originality/value Explores the impact of out-migration of adult children on the health of parents left behind, using very recent data of over a long period of a longitudinal design.