Environmental Factors Associated with Chinese Older Immigrants' Social Engagement

Elder abuse victimization, mental health, and protective factors

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the association between elder abuse and depressive symptoms, as well as protective factors against adverse mental health outcomes from elder abuse.

METHODS

Participants were drawn from the 5928 graduates of the WLS, Wave 3 study (age range 70-73) who completed both in-person and telephone interviews. From this large group, 975 (16.4%) participants reported having experienced elder abuse and were included in the sample. Path analysis using Mplus was employed.

RESULTS

Elder abuse victimization was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and those who had suffered multiple types of elder abuse experienced more severe mental health outcomes. However, both light physical activity conducted alone and having a friend as a confidant were negatively associated with depressive symptoms among older adults who had experienced elder abuse.

CONCLUSION

Given the significant association between elder abuse and negative mental health outcomes among older survivors, screening and prevention programs are recommended. Older adults who have experienced elder abuse may benefit from programs designed to increase physical activity and help older adults build and maintain close relationships with friends and confidants.

The Effect of Familism Emotions on Post-Traumatic Growth Among the Elderly in China: The Mediating Roles of Taoist Personality and Sense of Community

Purpose

Post-traumatic growth is a significant social issue in the management of active aging in elderly people. This study investigates the influence of familism emotions on post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the elderly, and the mediating role of Taoist personality and sense of community (SOC) therein, to provide a scientific basis for the development of positive aging in the elderly.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in several communities of Hubei Province in China. A total of 338 elderly people were investigated with the Familism Emotion Scale, PTG Scale, Taoist Personality Scale and SOC Scale. SPSS 23.0 was used to derive descriptive statistics and conduct a common method bias test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mplus 7.3 was used for structural equation modeling to test the significance of parallel mediation effects on the data.

Results

The results show that: (1) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC are positively correlated with PTG; (2) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC can all positively predict PTG in the elderly; (3) Both Taoist personality and SOC partially mediated the link between familism emotions and PTG in the elderly.

Conclusion

In the context of particularly constraining societal events such as COVID-19, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the impact of external environmental influences upon the elderly, such as family and community, and to encourage elderly people to cultivate a more Taoist personality. The formation of a Taoist personality offers a promising new focus for research in elderly healthcare.

Neighborhood Built Environments and Health in Later Life: A Literature Review

Objectives: This literature review aims to assess the current state of the field linking neighborhood environments to later-life health and wellbeing. Methods: We used electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar, and ProQuest) to search for studies published between 2010 and 2022 examining associations between neighborhood built environmental variables and later-life physical, cognitive, mental, and social health outcomes. Results: Among 168 studies reviewed, the majority were quantitative (n = 144) and cross-sectional (n = 122). Neighborhood environmental variables significantly associated with later-life health outcomes included population density/rurality, walkability/street connectivity, access to services and amenities, neighborhood quality and disorder, and parks/green/blue/open space. Neighborhoods operated through behavioral and biological pathways including hazardous exposures, affective states (e.g., stress and restoration), and lifestyle (e.g., exercise, socialization, and diet). Discussion: Neighborhoods and healthy aging research is a burgeoning interdisciplinary and international area of scholarship. Findings can inform upstream community interventions and strengthen clinical care.

A Social-Ecological Approach to Understanding Activity Engagement Patterns Among Older Chinese Immigrants

Few studies have focused on activity engagement among older immigrants. We aim to map the patterns of activity engagement and examine the associations with social-ecological factors in a sample of older Chinese immigrants. Participants were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Four patterns of activity engagement were identified through latent class analysis: restricted, diverse, informal social, and community-based social. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, cultural, and environmental factors distinguished latent classes of activity engagement. In particular, acculturation and family-oriented immigration differentiated the restricted from the diverse class membership. Positive attributes of social environment such as social network size, positive social support, and neighborhood cohesion were associated with the likelihood of categorization in the diverse, informal social, and community-based social groups relative to the restricted group. Findings point to the importance of positive attributes of social environment in enhancing engagement with life among older Chinese immigrants.

Evaluation of bio-psycho-social and socio-cultural problems of Syrian elderly living in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Older persons are among the vulnerable groups most affected by war and migration due to physical weakness, illness, social environment, and cultural adaptation difficulties.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to determine the economic, biopsychosocial, and socio-cultural problems of the older Syrians living in Turkey.

METHODS

Convergent mixed design was used within the scope of the research. For the qualitative phase of the research, 19 older persons migrants were interviewed. A semi-structured interview form was used to collect data in the interviews. For the quantitative phase of the research, 432 participants were reached. In order to collect data, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and Socio-cultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS-R) were used together with the demographic information form.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 66.2 ± 7.10 (Min: 60; Max: 91), the majority (87%) between the ages of 60 to 74 and 53.2% were male. The mean SCAS-R score of the older Syrians was 2.48 ± 0.88 (Min: 1; Max: 5) and the mean GDS-15 was 2.63 ± 3.84 (Min: 0; Max: 15). About 22.7% of older Syrian participants had mild or severe depressive symptoms. Experienced traumatic events, changing economic situation, and family relationships affected both physical and mental health of the older persons. The socio-cultural adaptation of the older persons was affected by language, temporary protection, and exposure to exclusion. The Older Syrians, who lacked information on social services, were experiencing problems with nutrition, clothing, bill payment, and rent due to economic problems. However, they mostly did not want to return to Syria because their living order in Syria was deteriorating and they were afraid.

CONCLUSION

Syrian elderly immigrants living in Turkey have biopsychosocial, economic, and cultural problems. National and international support programs and policies should be developed for elderly Syrian refugees who are expected to live in Turkey unless a safe living environment is provided.

Aging in Chinatowns: the Meaning of Place and Aging Experience for Older Immigrants

The concept of "Aging in place" has not been fully validated among older immigrant groups living in diverse cultures. The study used a qualitative research approach and interviewed Chinese immigrant older adults across three Chinese enclave communities in New York City to identify whether Chinatowns are a place for Chinese immigrants to age and explore their experience of aging in Chinatowns. The findings showed that Chinese immigrants did consider Chinatown as the place, which conveyed practical, linguistic, social, emotional and cultural meaning. Aging in Chinatown, older adults sought independence, security, and autonomy through various social resources. However, older adults, especially newly arrived immigrants, have faced obstacles that undermine their aging experience. Older immigrants' unique aging experience has provided profound insight in understanding migration and AIP, which help develop proper policies and programs to support the AIP initiative.

A Scoping Review of Psychological Sense of Community among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) is an important construct for health and well-being outcomes for community-dwelling older adults. Drawing on the Ecological Theory of Aging and the Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) framework, this scoping review explored how PSOC has been used in research with community-dwelling older adults. This study examined antecedents, correlates, and outcomes of PSOC, with a focus on relevance to theory and practice. Databases were searched between 1986 and 2021 for peer-reviewed journal articles. Searches identified 582 unique articles, and 28 were included in the final sample. Three primary themes emerged in the synthesis: relevance to the AFC framework, PSOC as a predictor of health and well-being outcomes, and the role of PSOC in relocation. Findings from this review show that PSOC serves as a mechanism that links the social and physical AFC environments with health and well-being outcomes. This review also presents mechanisms for how features of the environment relate to PSOC. These findings demonstrate the role of PSOC as a resource to improve person–environment fit. Results from this review can be used to guide future research and inform theory, policy, and practice.

Coping repertoires and psychological well-being of Chinese older immigrants in the United States

OBJECTIVES

This study examines (1) the overall structures of multifaceted coping resources, that is, coping repertoires, among Chinese older immigrants in the United States, (2) the optimal coping repertoire that is associated with best psychological outcomes of these older immigrants, and (3) the most effective coping repertoire in different adversities.

METHOD

Using data from 2,923 Chinese older immigrants in Chicago, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was performed to identify the overall coping repertoires of U.S. Chinese older adults. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were used to examine associations between coping repertoires and depression and Quality of Life (QoL), respectively. We further tested whether coping repertories moderate the relationships between adversities in health, economic, and social domains, and the two psychological outcomes.

RESULTS

LCA revealed four types of coping repertories: low-resource (43%), spouse-oriented (32%), community-oriented (15%), and multi-source coping (10%). Overall, Chinese older immigrants who had the multi-source coping repertoire reported the best psychological outcomes. The community-oriented and multi-source coping repertories had significantly stronger buffering effects on psychological well-being among individuals with IADL difficulties or low acculturation. However, spouse-oriented coping intensified the association between ADL difficulties and depression, and community-oriented coping intensified the association between poorer subjective health and lower quality of life.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed overall low coping repertories of Chinese older immigrants, suggesting the most optimal coping repertories should consist of both intrinsic and extrinsic coping sources. The findings further show that relying on limited sources might be harmful to older immigrants' mental health.

Neighborhood Environment and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Older Immigrants in the U.S.: The Mediation Effects of Coping Resources

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Studies have shown that neighborhood environment shapes older Americans' aging experience and health. However, it remains largely unknown whether and how neighborhood environment influences the wellbeing of older Asian Immigrants. Guided by the neighborhood stress process model, this study aims to investigate 1) the associations between neighborhood environmental stressors and depression among Chinese older immigrants, and 2) the potential mediation effects of intrapersonal (sense of mastery, sense of hopefulness) and interpersonal coping (social engagement) resources in such associations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study analyzed data collected from 2,801 Chinese older immigrants in the greater Chicago area. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrap resampling was used to fit path models on neighborhood environmental stressor, intra- and interpersonal coping resources, and depression.

RESULTS

Findings showed that neighborhood social disintegration and physical disorder were associated with more depressive symptoms directly and indirectly via lower intra- and inter-personal coping resources. Specifically, older immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater social disintegration reported lower sense of mastery and social engagement, which in turn were associated with more depressive symptoms (partial mediation). Older immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater physical disorder reported lower sense of hopefulness and mastery, which subsequently were associated with more depressive symptoms (full mediation).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings showed that neighborhood environmental stressors are risk factors for mental health of older Chinese immigrants and coping resources may serve as pathways of the associations. The implications for future research and practice were discussed.

The Influence of Interpersonal Behaviors and Population Density on Grip Strength of Elderly People: An Analysis of the Direct vs. Indirect Effects via Social Participation

The impact of social participation (SP) on the health of the elderly has been widely recognized, and urban-rural differences in social participation have attracted attention. However, few studies discussed the impact of social participation on specific health indicators and the further subdivision of urban-rural differences. This research aims to use the dimensions of interpersonal behaviors and population density rather than simple urban-rural distinctions to justify community differences and compare these differences' direct and indirect effects on grip strength. This study used 15,871 respondents aged over 50 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). An SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) analysis was used to explore the joint effect of interpersonal behavior and population density on social participation and the consequent impact on changes in grip strength and compare the differences among different genders, ages, wealth levels, and family relationships. The results indicated that community differences characterized by interpersonal behavior and population density have direct effects on grip strength and indirect effects on it through social participation. The conclusion is that the frequency of social activities, such as mah-jong and dancing in the Metropolitan Fringe and county-level cities is higher than that in Metropolitan centers. The high frequency of these activities has a positive and indirect impact on grip strength, and community differences have a more significant impact on women's social participation than men. However, the direct effect of community differences as defined by interpersonal communication and population density on grip strength is greater than the indirect effect of other factors through social participation.

Barriers and Facilitators to Social Participation in Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review

Objectives: Social participation has been shown to improve health, well-being, and quality of life in older adults. Previous reviews on social participation have been limited to identifying logistical barriers. The current review sought to examine barriers of social participation more broadly, as well as potential facilitators.Methods: We conducted a systematic review to collate identified barriers and facilitators to social participation in older adults. Seventy-six studies were eligible for inclusion.Results: Four main themes of barriers and facilitators to social participation associated with aging emerged: Demographic factors (such as age and socioeconomic status), Individual/Internal factors (such as motivations and health), Environmental/Infrastructure (such as accessibility, transport, and neighborhood cohesion), and Social Networks (particularly preexisting network size).Conclusions: These findings extended previous reviews to show that personal motivations, preexisting social networks, and neighborhood cohesion play vital roles in improving and maintaining quality social participation. The ability to facilitate this can occur at the individual therapeutic level and at the community level.Clinical implications: The findings highlight the need to consider barriers beyond logistical issues. In particular, healthy aging initiatives may benefit from matching social activities with individual motivations, and preventive measures to establish social networks early in the aging process are important.

Importance of Activity Engagement and Neighborhood to Cognitive Function Among Older Chinese Americans

This study investigates the differential associations of activity engagement and perceived neighborhood characteristics (i.e., cohesion, disorder, sense of community) with cognitive measures. Using data of 2,713 Chinese older adults in Chicago, who completed two interviews between 2011 and 2015, we identified three activity domains: reading, social, and games. In general, engagement in more reading and social activities was associated with better baseline cognitive function, but the positive effects tapered off over time in some cases. Neighborhood cohesion had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive function. Engagement in social activities mediated the neighborhood cohesion effects, that is, living in a cohesive neighborhood promoted social activities and consequently benefited cognitive function. Findings speak to the importance of activity engagement and neighborhood cohesion for cognition among the U.S. Chinese older adults. Future research is needed to investigate the longitudinal relationships of activity engagement and environmental factors with cognitive change.