Family relations and life satisfaction of older people: a comparative study between two different hukou s in China

Development and validation of the patient-reported outcome for older people living with HIV/AIDS in China (PROHIV-OLD)

BACKGROUND

The involvement of quality of life as the UNAIDS fourth 90 target to monitor the global HIV response highlighted the development of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to help address the holistic needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) beyond viral suppression. This study developed and tested preliminary measurement properties of a new patient-reported outcome (PROHIV-OLD) measure designed specifically to capture influences of HIV on patients aged 50 and older in China.

METHODS

Ninety-three older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were interviewed to solicit items and two rounds of patient cognitive interviews were conducted to modify the content and wording of the initial items. A validation study was then conducted to refine the initial instrument and evaluate measurement properties. Patients were recruited between February 2021 and November 2021, and followed six months later after the first investigation. Classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) were used to select items using the baseline data. The follow-up data were used to evaluate the measurement properties of the final instrument.

RESULTS

A total of 600 patients were recruited at the baseline. Of the 485 patients who completed the follow-up investigation, 483 were included in the validation sample. The final scale of PROHIV-OLD contained 25 items describing five dimensions (physical symptoms, mental status, illness perception, family relationship, and treatment). All the PROHIV-OLD dimensions had satisfactory reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficient, McDonald's ω, and composite reliability of each dimension being all higher than 0.85. Most dimensions met the test-retest reliability standard except for the physical symptoms dimension (ICC = 0.64). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the structural validity of the final scale, and the model fit index satisfied the criterion. The correlations between dimensions of PROHIV-OLD and MOS-HIV met hypotheses in general. Significant differences on scores of the PROHIV-OLD were found between demographic and clinical subgroups, supporting known-groups validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The PROHIV-OLD was found to have good feasibility, reliability and validity for evaluating health outcome of Chinese older PLWHA. Other measurement properties such as responsiveness and interpretability will be further examined.

Family Environment, Loneliness, Hope, and Subjective Well-Being of Asian Older Adults

The current study examined the interactions between family environment, hope, and loneliness, and their subsequent influence on the subjective well-being (SWB) of 345 noninstitutionalized older adults (aged 60 years and above) in Singapore. Door-to-door surveys information was collected on family environment (cohesiveness, relationship closeness, and support), hope, loneliness, and SWB (life satisfaction, happiness, and absence of negative affect). Structural equation modelling was conducted to test competing hypotheses derived from life stress and integrated resource theories. The results revealed that family environment influenced SWB both directly and indirectly. Family environment decreased loneliness and increased SWB. Additionally, family environment influenced SWB by offering increased hope. Family environment sets the context for the SWB of older adults in Singapore. Families should therefore be targeted for interventions to reduce loneliness, increase psychological resources, and raise SWB during old age.

The psychometric properties of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) and its associations with well-being indicators in Hong Kong older adults

OBJECTIVE

Social networks play a vital role in facilitating late-life health and well-being. The current research sought to examine the psychometric properties of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) among community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese older adults and to explore the association between social network and well-being indicators such as life satisfaction, functional social support, loneliness and anxiety.

METHODS

We administered the LSNS-6 scale to 324 older adults (mean = 71.70, SD = 8.58, range: 58-95). We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the construct validity. Cronbach's alpha was chosen for internal consistency estimation. Correlational analysis was performed between LSNS-6 scale and other measures to ascertain the convergent validity.

RESULTS

The two-factor model of LSNS-6 indicated an adequate fit. The goodness-of-fit index values for the model were χ2 /df = 2.61, CFI = 0.98, RSMEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.05. The internal consistency of the scale was α = 0.75. It also demonstrated good construct validity in measuring the social network and acceptable convergent validity to other measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The LSNS-6, according to current findings, can be a valid reference to the social network of Hong Kong older adults, enabling researchers and clinicians to investigate and develop further corresponding remedies for those in need.

An assessment of self-rated life satisfaction and its correlates with physical, mental and social health status among older adults in India

Life satisfaction refers to the assessment of one's own life in terms of self-perceived favourable qualities. It is an integral part of healthy and successful course of ageing. It is widely associated with the health status and social well-being. The present study attempted to determine the constructing factors of self-rated life satisfaction, such as socio-demographic, physical, social, and mental well-being of older adults. We analysed information from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI-1), the initial phase conducted during 2017-18 for the population of older adults in India. We applied descriptive statistics for prevalence assessment and association was checked using chi-square test. Further, to determine the adjusted outcome of predictor covariates on the likelihood of an individual being satisfied from life estimated by applying hierarchical multiple logistic regression models. Several noteworthy affirmations on the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and health risk behaviours with life satisfaction were observed. The results were consistent with studies showing change in life satisfaction subject to the state of physical and mental health, presence of chronic diseases, friends and family relations, dependency, and events of trauma or abuse. While comparing respondents, we found varying degrees of life satisfaction by gender, education, marital status, expenditure and other socio-economic features. We also found that besides physical and mental health, social support and well-being play a pivotal role in achieving higher life satisfaction among older adults. Overall, this work contributes to the study of the subjective well-being of older adults in India based on self-reported levels of life satisfaction and further narrows the gap in knowledge about associated behaviour. Hence, with on-going ageing scenario, there is need for multi-sectorial policy-oriented approaches at individual, family, and community level, which helps to take care of older-adults' physical, social, and mental health for the betterment of healthy ageing.

Predictive Models of Life Satisfaction in Older People: A Machine Learning Approach

Studies of life satisfaction in older adults have been conducted extensively through empirical research, questionnaires, and theoretical analysis, with the majority of these studies basing their analyses on simple linear relationships between variables. However, most real-life relationships are complex and cannot be approximated with simple correlations. Here, we first investigate predictors correlated with life satisfaction in older adults. Then, machine learning is used to generate several predictive models based on a large sample of older adults (age ≥ 50 years; n = 34,630) from the RAND Health and Retirement Study. Results show that subjective social status, positive emotions, and negative emotions are the most critical predictors of life satisfaction. The Support Vector Regression (SVR) model exhibited the highest prediction accuracy for life satisfaction in older individuals among several models, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Ridge Regression (RR), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Regression (LASSO), K Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Decision Tree Regression (DT) models. Although the KNN and DT models exhibited better model fitting than MLR, RR, and LASSO, their performances were poor in terms of model validation and model generalization. These results indicate that machine learning is superior to simple correlations for understanding life satisfaction among older adults.

Family Networks, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in China

Older adults’ family networks and social networks are important factors that influence life satisfaction, but their transmission mechanisms have not been adequately discussed. The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms through which family networks and social networks influence the life satisfaction of older adults. We empirically examined the effects and mechanisms of older adults’ family networks and social networks on their life satisfaction using the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey with a sample size of 11,418 older adults aged 60 years and older. In the research sample, 6.47% of older adults were subjected to at least one form of mistreatment. The research results indicate that family networks (β = 0.0060, p < 0.05) and social networks (β = 0.0122, p < 0.01) have a significant positive effect on older adults’ life satisfaction. The mechanism-of-action test found that family networks and social networks enhance older adults’ life satisfaction, mainly by reducing the level of physical mistreatment they experience, but these networks cannot improve the life satisfaction of the elderly by reducing their emotional mistreatment. Further research found that community-provided medical escorts, home chores, and meal delivery services can all alleviate the decline in life satisfaction among older adults due to emotional mistreatment. This study deepens our understanding of how older adults’ family and social networks affect their life satisfaction as we examine the mediating role of the physical and emotional mistreatment of older adults and discuss the effects of potential policy interventions.

The Roles of Life Satisfaction and Community Recreational Facilities in the Relationship between Loneliness and Depression in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the mediating effect of life satisfaction and the moderating effect of the availability of community recreational facilities (CRF) in the association between loneliness and depression in rural older adults and urban older adults, respectively.

METHODS

Quantitative data collected from 7547 Chinese older adults were analyzed using the SPSS macro PROCESS to test a moderated mediation model with life satisfaction as the mediator and CRF availability and residency type (rural vs. urban) as moderators.

RESULTS

Loneliness negatively predicted life satisfaction, life satisfaction negatively predicted depression, and loneliness positively predicted depression. The interaction of loneliness and CRF availability had a significant effect on depression for urban older adults but not for rural older adults. The direct impact of loneliness on depression differed significantly between rural and urban older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Life satisfaction mediated the association between loneliness and depression in both rural and urban older adults; CRF availability unexpectedly boosted the effect of loneliness on depression in urban older adults but not in rural older adults. Given the same level of loneliness, urban older adults were more likely to be depressed than rural older adults.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Psychogeriatric practitioners may embed life satisfaction into intervention programs to minimize depression among older adults. Public administrators should examine the utilization of public facilities to avoid wasted resources and counterproductive effects on older adults. Lonely urban older adults deserve special attention.

The role of perceived social support and depressive symptoms in the relationship between forgiveness and life satisfaction among older people

OBJECTIVE

Forgiveness carries a different significance for individuals, especially older people. Few studies have focused on the effect of forgiveness on life satisfaction among older people and the mediating role of perceived social support and depressive symptoms. The current study tested the relationship between forgiveness and life satisfaction, and the mediating effects of perceived social support and depressive symptoms in the relationship.

METHOD

The sample of the study consisted of 713 older people (>56 years, M=64.89, SD=1.31)were recruited from Jiangsu province in China. Bootstrap estimation of multiple mediation analysis was used to examine the mediating effects of perceived social support and depressive symptoms in the relationship between forgiveness and life satisfaction.

RESULTS

Forgiveness of others and oneself have positively associated with life satisfaction, and multiple mediation analyses indicated that perceived social support and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between forgiveness of others and oneself and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Forgiveness of others and self is linked with life satisfaction not only through perceived social support but also depressive symptoms. Forgiveness can enhance life satisfaction of older people. It can also enhance the effects of social support on their social relationships and reduce depressive symptoms, which lead to higher life satisfaction.

Within-family patterns of intergenerational emotional closeness and psychological well-being of older parents in China

Objectives: There may be a substantial difference in the intergenerational emotional closeness among offspring in a multi-child family, both regarding the overall level as well as the extent to which older parents differentiate emotional closeness between their children. This study addressed different within-family patterns based on the average level and differentiation of older parent-child emotional closeness. It also examined the associations between these distinct patterns and the psychological well-being of older parents in China.Method: We derived a final sample of 4247 older parents (aged 60+) with 14,461 children from the baseline wave (2010) of the China Family Panel Studies. A latent profile analysis was applied to classify within-family patterns based on two indicators: within-family mean level and differentiation of parent-child emotional closeness among offspring. Ordered logistic regression and ordinary least square (OLS) regression were used to investigate the associations between these patterns and older adults' life satisfaction and depression, respectively.Results: Two family patterns of parent-child emotional closeness were identified: tight-knit (91.50%) and highly ambivalent (8.50%). Compared with the former, older parents having highly ambivalent relationships across multiple offspring tended to have lower life satisfaction and higher levels of depression.Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of capturing different within-family dynamics of intergenerational emotional closeness in Chinese families. It also pointed out the negative effects of collective ambivalence for older adults' psychological well-being.

Socioeconomic inequalities in mental distress and life satisfaction among older Chinese men and women: The role of family functioning

Despite growing concern over socioeconomic inequality in health, few studies have focused on health inequality among older adults. The present study examined the independent and joint effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and family functioning on mental health and subjective well-being and explored the gender differences in such relations. Representative survey data on older adults (N = 1,432) were drawn from the third wave of the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics conducted in 2015. Descriptive analyses and ordinary least-squares regressions were conducted for data analysis. The results demonstrate that receipt of means-tested welfare payments was associated with more severe mental distress and lower life satisfaction; living in private (as opposed to public or subsidised) housing was associated with better mental health; whereas holding investments and larger residence size were related to higher life satisfaction. Moreover, greater family functioning predicted better mental health and greater subjective well-being and mitigated the detrimental effects of low SES. Gender differences were observed concerning the effects of different predictors. The findings could inform the development of health-promotion services sensitive to gender and socioeconomic differences and facilitate integration of individual- and family-level services for older adults.

Mediating effects of psychological resilience on life satisfaction among older adults: A cross-sectional study in China

The mediating effects of psychological resilience on quality of life among older adults were rarely examined empirically. Based on the literature on the relationship between psychological resilience and quality of life and the factors associated with psychological resilience among older adults, a theoretical model was proposed with the hypothesis that psychological resilience would mediate the relationships between both filial support and sense of community and life satisfaction among older adults. The research used a cross-sectional design. Non-probability sampling method was applied to recruit 418 community-dwelling older adults in two adjacent cities in Fujian, China in 2017. A face-to-face structured Chinese questionnaire was adopted to collect data. The structural equation modeling showed that psychological resilience mediated the relationships between both filial support and sense of community and life satisfaction. The findings confirmed the positive impacts of psychological resilience on older adults' life satisfaction and highlighted the importance of family and community contexts to older adults' psychological resilience and life satisfaction. Interventions and programmes that aim to promote filial support towards older adults and enhance their sense of community would contribute to both their psychological resilience and life satisfaction.

Perceived Health and Life Satisfaction of Elderly People: Testing the Moderating Effects of Social Support, Attitudes Toward Aging, and Senior Privilege

As health declines with age, it is critical to explore moderators that could buffer the impact of declining health on life satisfaction of elderly people. This study aims to test the moderating effects of social support, attitudes toward aging, and senior privilege on the relationship between perceived health and life satisfaction among elderly people. The study used a sample of 5809 Chinese elderly people. Multiple regression analyses were performed to test the moderating effects of the study variables along with gender difference. The results show that social support and attitudes toward aging do not moderate the relationship between perceived health and life satisfaction; senior privilege however, amplifies the impact of perceived health on life satisfaction for female elderly people. The findings recommend personalized provision of senior privilege based on health status and types of diseases, rather than only based on age; and suggest tailored female-oriented social services such as psychological counseling and humanistic care.

Emotional regulation as a mediator between the filial behaviour of the oldest son and subjective well-being of older parents in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

The link between the filial behaviour of an adult child and older parents' well-being is well entrenched, and theoretical evidence has indicated that it may be mediated by emotional regulation. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine whether emotional regulation (i.e. cognitive reappraisal and suppression) mediates the association between filial behaviour of the oldest son (i.e. the filial behaviour of respect and filial behaviour of daily maintenance) and subjective well-being in older parents.

METHODS

This correlational study recruited 400 community-dwelling older parents in Rawalpindi Pakistan through a multistage cluster random sampling technique. Subjective well-being was measured by Concise Measure of Subjective Well-being; filial behaviour was examined through receipt of 12 domains; emotional regulation was assessed by using the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. The structural equation modelling was employed to test the mediation effects.

RESULTS

Cognitive reappraisal was found to partially mediate the relationship between filial behaviour of respect and subjective well-being (β in direct model = 0.661, P < 0.000; β in full mediational model = 0.327, P < 0.000), but it failed to mediate between filial behaviour of daily maintenance and subjective well-being (β in direct model = 0.080, P = 0.149; β in full mediational model = 0.030, P = 0.362). Moreover, suppression did not exert mediation effects in the associations between the filial behaviour of respect and subjective well-being (β = 0.003, P = 0.338); and filial behaviour of daily maintenance and subjective well-being (β = -0.004, P = 0.221).

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the results suggest that different dimensions of the filial behaviour of the oldest son exert differential effects on emotional regulation and subjective well-being in older parents. Based on the current findings, there is a need to develop adaptive emotional regulatory capacity intervention programs for the development and enhancement of subjective well-being in older parents within their familial context.

Cell Phone Use and Happiness Among Chinese Older Adults: Does Rural/Urban Residence Status Matter?

This study explores the relationship between cell phone use and self-reported happiness among older adults in Mainland China and whether rural/urban residence status moderates this relationship. The analysis is based on a sample of 6,952 respondents over the age of 60, from the 2010 wave of China Family Panel Studies. Findings show that using own cell phone is positively associated with self-reported happiness among Chinese older adults (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.283, p < .001). This relationship remains for respondents residing in rural areas ( OR = 1.616, p < .01) but not for their urban counterparts. Findings reflect on how the happiness of Chinese older adults has been affected by a growing shift in the traditional family values due to the unprecedented economic growth. Results also highlight the disparities between state support for older adults in rural and urban areas as well as the necessity to develop relevant policies to improve the subjective well-being of China's rapidly growing population of older adults.

Age-Friendly Communities and Life Satisfaction Among the Elderly in Urban China

This study aims to examine the extent to which older adults’ perceptions of environmental age-friendliness are associated with their life satisfaction. We used a national representative sample ( N = 9,965) with elders aged 60 and above from urban China and structural equation modeling to analyze the relationship among community characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES), and life satisfaction. Results showed that older people’s perceptions of housing conditions, local amenities, and social inclusion were significantly associated with general life satisfaction. Multigroup comparison tests indicated that no disparities in the aforementioned relationships among SES subgroups. However, the socioeconomically disadvantaged elderly population was shown to have the lowest assessment of community age-friendliness. Findings emphasized the potential role of age-friendly communities as having an influential force on older adults’ subjective well-being, regardless of their SES. Meanwhile, policy makers and practitioners should pay special attentions to improve the living environments of disadvantaged elders.

The Association Between Filial Piety and Depressive Symptoms Among U.S. Chinese Older Adults

Background: Depressive symptoms are detrimental to the overall health and well-being of older adults. This study aimed to examine the association between filial piety and depressive symptoms among U.S. Chinese older adults. Method: Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE), a community-engaged, population-based epidemiological study of U.S. Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above in the Greater Chicago area. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was adopted to measure depressive symptoms. Six domains of filial piety were evaluated, involving respect, happiness, care, greeting, obedience, and financial support. Regression analyses were performed. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, education, annual personal income, marital status, living arrangement, number of children, years in the United States, years in the community and medical comorbidities, every one point lower in filial piety expectation score was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms (RR [rate ratio] = .96, .95-.98). And every one point lower in filial piety receipt score was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms (RR = .94, .93-.95). Discussion: This study provides insights to research on filial piety and depressive symptoms by examining expectation and perceived receipt of filial piety. Future studies are needed to investigate the association between filial discrepancy and depressive symptoms.

Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Filial Piety and Depression in Older People

Background: Studies have indicated that one of the key factors in relieving depression in older people is social network support, especially from the family. In Chinese society, the traditional value of filial piety strongly influences daily interactions and behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine older people’s perceptions of filial piety and to explore the correlation between filial piety and depression in older people. Method: In this systematic literature review of seven databases (CEPS, Cochrane, PubMed/Medicine, OVID, CINAHL, ProQuest, and PsycINFO), eight studies on the correlation between filial piety and depression in older people were selected, six of which were included in the present meta-analysis. Results: The studies included in this review lacked consistency regarding the screening and measurement instruments used. Two groups of meta-analyses (four studies) illustrated that filial piety was negatively correlated with depression in older people ( r = −0.196, p < .001, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.283, −0.106] and r = −0.139, p = .006, 95% CI [−0.235, −0.041]), suggesting that an increase in older people’s perception of their children’s filial piety was correlated with a reduction in their depression. Conclusions: Filial piety was correlated with depression in older people. Future studies should focus on clarifying the concept of filial piety to aid in the application of appropriate measurement tools and the development of intervention measures that could enhance the care provided for depression in older people.

The Association Between Filial Discrepancy and Depressive Symptoms: Findings From a Community-Dwelling Chinese Aging Population

Background

The relationship between filial piety and depressive symptoms has been widely discussed, but limited research focused on the gap between filial expectations and filial receipt. This study aims to investigate the association between filial discrepancy and depressive symptoms.

Methods

Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE), a community-engaged, population-based epidemiological study of U.S. Chinese older adults aged 60 and older in the greater Chicago area. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Overall filial discrepancy was evaluated by filial receipt minus expectations. Levels of overall filial discrepancy divided older adults into four groups based on the medium value of filial expectations and receipt. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Older adults with greater filial receipt than expectations were more likely to have lower risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 0.95 [0.92-0.97]). The group with high expectations and low receipt has the highest risk of depressive symptoms among the four groups (OR, 1.51 [1.07-2.13]). Greater receipt than expectations in care (OR, 0.83 [0.76-0.92]), make happy (OR, 0.77 [0.69-0.86]), greet (OR, 0.88 [0.79-0.97]), obey (OR, 0.76 [0.68-0.86]), and financial support (OR, 0.80 [0.71-0.89]) was associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

This study goes beyond previous research by examining the association between filial discrepancy domains and depressive symptoms. Cultural relevancy of health interventions is important in the context of Chinese communities. Health care professionals are suggested to be aware of the depressive symptoms of U.S. Chinese older adults with high filial expectations and low receipt.

Self-image and intergenerational relationships as correlates of life satisfaction in Chinese older adults: will gender make a difference?

Promoting life satisfaction in later life has long been both a policy and practice challenge. This study examined the association between older adults' self-image and life satisfaction, and that between their intergenerational relationships and life satisfaction. Given that sources of wellbeing for older men and women may vary due to socially constructed realities in early life, gender differences were also investigated in the correlates of life satisfaction. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in 2014 with a sample of 1,099 older adults aged 60 years and over from four cities in China. Findings of this study showed that older adults’ self-image and intergenerational relationships were significantly associated with their life satisfaction after controlling for certain socio-demographic characteristics, and health and self-care ability. The correlates of life satisfaction were shown to differ between older men and women. Programmes and Services should be developed for older adults to explore and identify positive aspects of themselves, to improve their relationships with their adult children, and to foster a more positive image of ageing in wider society. In addition, service providers should take gender differences in correlates of life satisfaction into account in service and intervention programme development.

Perceived Resources as a Predictor of Satisfaction with Food-Related Life among Chilean Elderly: An Approach with Generalized Linear Models

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study is to show why perceived resources are a strong predictor of satisfaction with food-related life in Chilean older adults. Design, sampling and participants: A survey was conducted in rural and urban areas in 30 communes of the Maule Region with 785 participants over 60 years of age who live in their own homes. The Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFL) scale was used. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used for the regression analysis.

RESULTS

The results led to different considerations: First, older adults' perceived levels of resources are a good reflection of their actual levels of resources. Second, the individuals rated the sum of the perceived resources as 'highly important' to explain older adults' satisfaction with food-related life. Third, SWFL was predicted by satisfaction with economic situation, family importance, quantity of domestic household goods and a relative health indicator. Fourth, older adults who believe they have more resources compared to others are more satisfied with their food-related life. Finally, Poisson and binomial logistic models showed that the sum of perceived resources significantly increased the prediction of SWFL.

CONCLUSION

The main conclusion is that perceived personal resources are a strong predictor of SWFL in Chilean older adults.

Social exclusion of older persons: a scoping review and conceptual framework

As a concept, social exclusion has considerable potential to explain and respond to disadvantage in later life. However, in the context of ageing populations, the construct remains ambiguous. A disjointed evidence-base, spread across disparate disciplines, compounds the challenge of developing a coherent understanding of exclusion in older age. This article addresses this research deficit by presenting the findings of a two-stage scoping review encompassing seven separate reviews of the international literature pertaining to old-age social exclusion. Stage one involved a review of conceptual frameworks on old-age exclusion, identifying conceptual understandings and key domains of later-life exclusion. Stage two involved scoping reviews on each domain (six in all). Stage one identified six conceptual frameworks on old-age exclusion and six common domains across these frameworks: neighbourhood and community; services, amenities and mobility; social relations; material and financial resources; socio-cultural aspects; and civic participation. International literature concentrated on the first four domains, but indicated a general lack of research knowledge and of theoretical development. Drawing on all seven scoping reviews and a knowledge synthesis, the article presents a new definition and conceptual framework relating to old-age exclusion.

Is giving or receiving psychologically beneficial to older mothers in South Korea? Importance of marital status

In order to understand intergenerational financial transfers and subjective well-being for older mothers, this study argues that marital status is an important factor to be considered. Using the first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), this study finds that married older mothers report higher levels of life satisfaction when they provide economic support but widowed older mothers feel higher levels of life satisfaction when they receive economic support. Also, regular or irregular financial support appears to also matter in the associations between financial support and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that married and widowed older mothers have different viewpoints about the parent-children relationship.

In the choice between health and money, health comes first: an analysis of happiness among rural Chilean elderly

We studied the relationship between happiness and individual socio-demographic context and health and dietary variables by interviewing 389 elderly individuals (age 60-90 years) living in rural areas in the Maule Region of Central Chile. The Lyubomirsky & Lepper (1999) subjective happiness scale was used. Ordinal logistic regression models were estimated. The discrete dependent variable was level of happiness. The following variables were significantly associated with happiness: (1) individual socio-demographic variables like age and satisfaction with the economic situation; (2) health variables like independence in activities of daily living, common activities, and self-rated health; and (3) dietary variables such as life satisfaction related to food and the frequency with which the elders shared dinner with others. The study results suggest more efficient efforts at healthy eating for the elderly in rural areas.

Associations between economic loss, financial strain and the psychological status of Wenchuan earthquake survivors

This study examines the effects of economic loss on the life satisfaction and mental health of Wenchuan earthquake survivors. Economic loss is measured by earthquake impacts on the income and houses of the survivors. The correlation analysis shows that earthquake impact on income is significantly correlated with life satisfaction and depression. The regression analyses indicate that earthquake impact on income is indirectly associated with life satisfaction and depression through its effect on financial strain. The research highlights the importance of coping strategies in maintaining a balance between economic status and living demands for disaster survivors.

Quality of life as perceived by older persons with chronic illness in rural and urban Shandong, China

This qualitative study aimed to understand the meaning of quality of life to older persons with chronic illness in China, and to compare the perceptions of those living in rural and urban areas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 older Chinese, half residing in urban and half in rural areas in Shandong province. Through an inductive coding and categorization process, the study identified two shared domains of quality of life: basic necessities and family wellness. Two additional domains, physical health and mood and spirit, were endorsed predominantly by urban residents. Entertainment and leisure comprised a quality of life domain for urban residents only. Cohort experience and cultural values likely played a role in shared beliefs about quality of life, whereas socioeconomic context may account for differences in rural and urban conceptions. An implication of the findings is that for older Chinese with chronic illness, developing and sustaining programs to meet basic needs is critical to quality of life.