Elderly Chinese Immigrants Research Articles

Factors Related to the Mental Health of Elderly Chinese Immigrants in Australia

The present study aimed to examine the factors related to the mental health of elderly Chinese-Australians. Using the framework of Berry (1997), the study examined how individual variables such as social support, length of time in Australia, English competency, self-efficacy and sense of personal control were related to the life satisfaction of elderly Chinese-Australians. The participants consisted of 157 elderly Chinese male and female immigrants (aged 50 or above) recruited through various community groups. Participants completed a questionnaire with several scales on the above issues, and a section on demographic information. The results indicated that life satisfaction was related to age, age at migration, English proficiency, locus of control, social support, and self-efficacy. Implications for service provision were also discussed.

Relationships between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants in the Seattle area.

The risk factors related to quality of sleep in elderly adults, such as life-style events, physical illness, psychological factors, and gender have been well identified by several studies. However, information regarding the relationship between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants is not available in recent sleep literature. The purposes of this study were to explore the quality of sleep and discover the relationships between sleep quality and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants people in the Seattle area. Pearson's correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Eighty community-dwelling Chinese elderly people, aged from 66 to 93, were recruited from the Chinese Senior Day Care Center, local Chinese churches, elderly Chinese individuals' private homes, and Chinese retirement apartments within the Seattle area. Three questionnaires were utilized to collect data, and personal interviews were used to facilitate the subjects in completing the questionnaires. The findings of this study showed that (1) 55% (n = 44) of the participants were identified as poor sleepers and 45% (n = 36) as good sleepers. (2) depression and the number of current diseases experienced by the subjects were in statistically significant correlation with quality of sleep, with r = .477, p = .00 and r = .221, p = .049 respectively. (3) daytime napping did not affect nighttime sleep in this study' population. The findings of this study can provide information regarding sleep problems among elderly Chinese immigrants to improve the elderly's quality of sleep.

Use of Senior Center Services of the Elderly Chinese Immigrants

Using the Andersen-Newman service utilization framework, this study examined the factors explaining different types of senior center service use among a random sample of elderly Chinese. Although most of the elderly Chinese visit a senior center regularly, there is a substantial underutilization of support services. The findings also show that the predictors of use vary for different types of senior center services. While the use of acculturation services is predicted by age of the users, the use of recreation services is better explained by place of origin and negative affect. The use of task assistance services is best explained by gender, satisfaction toward services and negative affect. The use of support services is predicted by living arrangement, satisfaction toward services and fewer mental health symptoms. Finally, the frequency of drop-in is predicted by gender, place of origin and satisfaction toward services. The implications of these findings to social work practice with elderly Chinese are discussed in the paper.

Developing a quality of life measure for Chinese patients with diabetes

The objective of this study was to develop a Chinese version of the Diabetes Quality of Life measure (DQOL), appropriate for elderly Chinese immigrants with Type 2 diabetes, and evaluate its reliability and validity through psychometric testing. Using an established diabetes quality of life measure, we employed focus groups to modify the instrument to be appropriate for an elderly Chinese population. The revised version was forward translated and back translated by four individuals independently. A review committee consensus determined the final version, which was pre-tested on five lay people to assess the equivalence of meaning. Elderly Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes ( n=70) attending either an endocrinology or family practice clinic near Toronto were recruited to complete the Chinese version of the DQOL. Reliability of the instrument was assessed by evaluating internal consistency, item-internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Divergent validity was assessed to show that the instrument could detect worsening quality of life associated with diabetic complications. The Chinese version of the DQOL consists of 42 items and three scales including satisfaction, impact and diabetes-related worry. The DQOL and its three scales had high degrees of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.76–0.92) and excellent test–retest reliability (Pearson correlation=0.94–0.99). All items had high correlation with their hypothesized scale with the exception of three items. Divergent validity of the instrument was demonstrated. This study provides evidence for the reliability and validity of this Chinese version of the DQOL measure for an elderly Chinese population with Type 2 diabetes. This instrument may be used in future studies to better understand the quality of life of the Chinese population with diabetes.

Living Alone and Depression Among Older Chinese Immigrants

This study examined the profiles of 147 Chinese elderly immigrants by living arrangement and the role that stress and coping resources played in explaining depressive symptoms in the volunter sample group who were recruited at senior centers and meal sites. Elderly Chinese Americans who lived alone, had higher levels of education, reported poorer health, experienced more stressful life events, and were dissatisfied with help received from family members were more likely to be depressed. The impact of these factors on the quality of life of elderly Chinese immigrants can be understood within the Chinese cultural context and the implications of these findings for service providers are discussed.

The Use of Social Supports by Elderly Chinese Immigrants

This study explores the use of informal and formal social supports among ninety-three elderly Chinese immigrants residing in California. A historical and cultural overview of the Chinese immigrant experience is presented.as a contextual framework. Results showed that family and kin were perceived as the most satisfying sources of support. Barriers to utilization of formal services and agencies were lack, of knowledge of services, language differences and lack of transportation. The implications of these results within the changing dynamics of Chinese-American families are discussed.

Social Work. Roger Fuller and Emanuelle Tulle-Winton. 1996. Specialism, genericism and others: does it make a difference? A study of social work services to elderly people, British Journal of Social Work, 26, 679–698. Julia Twigg. 1997. Deconstructing the ‘social bath’: help with bathing at home for older and disabled people, Journal of Social Policy, 26 (2), 211–233. Ada C. Mui.

Social Work. Roger Fuller and Emanuelle Tulle-Winton. 1996. Specialism, genericism and others: does it make a difference? A study of social work services to elderly people, British Journal of Social Work, 26, 679–698. Julia Twigg. 1997. Deconstructing the ‘social bath’: help with bathing at home for older and disabled people, Journal of Social Policy, 26 (2), 211–233. Ada C. Mui. 1996. Depression among elderly Chinese immigrants: an exploratory study, Social Work, 41 (6), 633–639. - Volume 17 Issue 5

Depression among Elderly Chinese Immigrants: An Exploratory Study

Despite an increase in the population of elderly Chinese immigrants, little is known about their mental health problems. The most prevalent mental health problem of elderly people-depression-often goes unrecognized and untreated. In an interview format, the author administered the Geriatric Depression Scale and measures of health status, living situation, stressful life events, and informal support to a community sample of 50 elderly Chinese immigrants recruited at senior centers and meal sites. Respondents who rated their health as good, who lived with others, and who were satisfied with help received from family members were least likely to be depressed. The impact of these factors on the mental health of elderly Chinese immigrants can be understood in light of their unique cultural values.

Information and a forgotten minority: Elderly Chinese immigrants

This exploratory and descriptive study examines the information needs of elderly Chinese immigrants, implications for improved information services, and the value of having baseline data on the topic. The information needs of elderly Chinese immigrants were diverse. News and information about health issues, hobbies or interests, cultural or religious activities were the most often identified information needs. The most frequently used information sources were newspapers, television, and family or friends.

Life Satisfaction of Chinese Elderly Immigrants in Calgary

RÉSUMÉ:Cet article explore la satisfaction de la vie de 81 personnes âgées, sélectionnées au hasard (58 femmes et 23 hommes; âge moyen 76), d'origine chinoise et provenant de l'ouest du Canada. La variable dépendante, la satisfaction de la vie, a été mesurée en utilisant le «Life Satisfaction Index-A (LSI-A)» et une mesure globale à une seule question. Les résultats ont indiqué que la plupart des personnes âgées, immigrants d'origine chinoise faisant partie de cette étude, étaient plutôt satisfaites de leur vie et ont obtenu des résultats élevés en utilisant la mesure LSI-A. Niveau d'activité, santé psychologique, supports sociaux, amour propre, et le sens d'être en charge d'eux-mêmes étaient significativement associés avec les deux mesures de satisfaction. L'analyse de regression multiple révèle que la santé psychologique, le soutien social et le sens d'être en charge d'eux-mêmes étaient les meilleurs prédicteurs. Concernant la satisfaction de la vie, tant pour hommes que pour les femmes, il n'y avait pour ainsi dire aucune différence. D'autres analyses ont examinés les corrélate de la satisfaction de la vie des répondants des deux sexes. Les moyens d'améliorer la satisfaction de la vie de cette minorité ethnique sont le point d'intérêt de la discussion.