Abstract
Background: Previous studies suggest that hopelessness is associated with adverse health outcome and mortality. However, there exists limited understanding regarding the feelings of hopelessness in the U.S. Chinese aging population, the largest and oldest Asian population in the U.S. Objective: This study aims to examine the prevalence of hopelessness among community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the PINE study, a population-based study of Chinese older adults aged 60 and above in the Greater Chicago Area. We administered Beck Hopelessness Scale -7 to examine feelings of hopelessness. Results: Of the 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese older adults, 40.9% of the participants reported that they possessed hopelessness thoughts. Age, years in the U.S., and years in the community were significantly and positively correlated with any hopelessness, while overall health status, quality of life, and health changes over the last year were significantly and negatively correlated with any feelings of hopelessness. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the feelings of hopelessness were prevalent in U.S. Chinese older adults. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine the risk factors and outcomes of hopelessness among U.S. Chinese older adults.
Highlights
Hopelessness is perceived as a system of negative cognitive expectancies concerning oneself and one’s future life [1]
Of the 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese older adults, 40.9% of the participants reported that they possessed hopelessness thoughts
Our findings suggest that the feelings of hopelessness were prevalent in U.S Chinese older adults
Summary
Hopelessness is perceived as a system of negative cognitive expectancies concerning oneself and one’s future life [1]. Individuals who have feelings of hopelessness are often characterized by possessing a negative view about the future, and believe that nothing will turn out right for them, that they will never succeed at what they try to do, that their important goals can never be attained, and that their worst problems will never be solved [4]. Empirical studies suggest that hopelessness is associated with adverse health outcomes. Hopelessness is a key variable linking depression to suicide in all age groups [6]. Prospective studies of psychiatric older patients seen in mental health treatment settings suggest that hopelessness confers risk for death by suicide [8]. Previous studies suggest that hopelessness is associated with adverse health outcome and mortality. There exists limited understanding regarding the feelings of hopelessness in the U.S Chinese aging population, the largest and oldest Asian population in the U.S
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