Ethnicity and Quality of Life

Abstract

As Gabriel and Bowling (2004) note, the concept of quality of life (QoL) is used to refer to both macro (societal, objective) and micro (individual, subjective) definitions. Bowling (2004) distinguished eight different models of QoL within these two broader categories: objective standard of living; health and longevity; satisfaction of human needs; life satisfaction and psychological well-being; social capital; ecological and neighbourhood resources; health and functioning; cognitive competence, autonomy, self-efficacy; etc.; and values, interpretations, and perceptions. Within the research on ethnicity and QoL in old age this same diversity is evident and there is less research available. Recently, Moriarty and Butt (2004) noted that very little of the work on QoL has focused on people from minority ethnic groups. Furthermore, the literature on ethnicity includes a large number of different ethnic and subcultural groups within many different host nations. These two factors, the relatively few studies focusing in the area, together with the fact that those that do often deal with different ethnic groups in different countries, mean there is insufficient research to draw international conclusions on ethnic groups generally or on particular ethnic groups. With these caveats there is nevertheless a body of research that focuses on ethnicity and on particular ethnic groups within Western societies. This chapter reflects on that research in terms of QoL in old age and raises questions for future research. The chapter begins by narrowing the focus to QoL studies that deal with subjective social indicators of life satisfaction and psychological well-being. It then discusses findings relating to ethnic groups generally, i.e. similarities and differences between majorities and minorities, with the latter being viewed as a single group. This is followed by an examination of correlates of QoL among particular ethnic groups, with the older Chinese people living in Canada as an illustrative example. Finally, issues encountered in ethnic studies that make achieving valid data especially difficult (such as the general confounding of ethnicity with socio-economic status in the empirical world) are described.