Cultural capital and mediatory role of meaning-making in post-bereavement depression among older adults in rural China

Abstract

This research was conducted to test the direct effect of cultural capital and indirect effect of meaning making on depression among Chinese older adults in bereavement living in rural area. A sample of 352 older adults participated in this research. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to secure the construct validity of cultural capital, and path analysis with multiple mediators was run to investigate the mediation model including cultural capital, depression, meaning making, and meaning making squared. Meaning making and it squared form (a high level of meaning making) were mediators in the direct relationship cultural capital and depression. The results revealed a significantly positive indirect effect of cultural capital on depression through meaning making and a significantly negative indirect effect through the square of meaning making. The direct effect of cultural capital on depression did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggested a full mediating role of high quality of meaning making. Enhancing the levels of cultural capital and meaning making by means of education programs was recommended, since Chinese traditional culture has features in helping the widowed older adults adapt to the death of their partners.