Table 1 Participant characteristics (N = 300)

Age

Original occupation

  ≤ 30

3 (1)

 Relevant occupation

104 (34.7)

 31–40

8 (2.7)

 Unrelated occupation

196 (65.3)

 41–50

113 (37.7)

How the participant obtained this job

 51–60

162 (54.0)

 Help from relatives or friends

159 (53)

 ≥ 61

14 (4.7)

 Help from domestic companies

44 (14.7)

Gender

 Recommended by employment center or relevant departments

20 (6.7)

 Male

44 (14.7)

 Official recruitment

111 (37.0)

 Female

256 (85.3)

 Others

18 (6.0)

Marital status

The reasons for doing this job

 Married (including remarriage)

281 (93.7)

 No better work

46 (15.3)

 Not married (single, divorced, and widowed)

19 (6.3)

 Stable income

107 (35.7)

Education

 Want to work in the city

23 (7.7)

 Primary school

111 (37.0)

 Happy to serve the elderly

148 (49.3)

 Junior high school

149 (49.7)

 Learning knowledge and skills

85 (28.3)

 Senior high school and technical secondary school

36 (12.0)

 Gain respect and praise

21 (7.0)

 ≥ Junior college

4 (1.3)

 Others

7 (2.3)

Residence

Professional attitude

 Urban

30 (10.0)

 Respectable

192 (64.0)

 Town

82 (27.3)

 No difference from other jobs

90 (30.0)

 Rural

188 (62.7)

 Low social status

18 (6.0)

Average monthly income

Change profession when possible

 < 3000 RMB

2 (0.7)

 Yes

50 (16.7)

 3000–3999 RMB

87 (29.0)

 No

170 (56.7)

 4000–5000 RMB

164 (54.7)

 Uncertain

80 (26.7)

 > 5000 RMB

47 (15.7)

Type of certificate

Daily working hours

 No certificate

62 (20.7)

 < 8 h

1 (0.3)

 Junior

201 (67.0)

 8–9 h

17 (5.7)

 Intermediate

32 (10.7)

 10–12 h

202 (67.3)

 Advanced

5 (1.7)

 > 12 h

80 (26.7)

Number of elderlies cared for

Years of working in this occupation

 1

6 (2.0)

 < 1 Year

52 (17.3)

 2–5

21 (7.0)

 1–3 Years

103 (34.3)

 5–8

222 (74.0)

 3–5 Years

86 (28.7)

 8–10

46 (15.3)

 > 5 Years

59 (19.7)

 > 10

5 (1.7)

Receive formal training

 Yes

282 (94.0)

 No

18 (6.0)