Minimal research has simultaneously explored the premigration, displacement, and postmigration experiences of loneliness among older adults with a refugee history. Drawing from a constructivist grounded theory study guided by an intersectionality framework, this study aimed to explore the factors influencing loneliness in these three phases among Hmong older adults with a refugee background. Interviews were conducted with 17 Hmong older adults aged 65 and older residing in Northern California. Findings revealed the influencing factors emerging from systems of oppression grounded within the social, political, and cultural context of each phase. Influencing factors of loneliness were identified as betrayal, familial loss, instability, war violence, loss of social status, isolation, diminishing filial piety, language barrier, declining health, and lack of purpose. This study highlights the need for more research, practice, and policy focused on the context of the refugee experience to gain a greater insight into their loneliness experiences.
Our study details the development of the Positive Youth Development Sustainability Scale, a self-reporting tool to assess the impacts of positive youth development (PYD) programs. The Positive Youth Development Sustainability Scale provides practitioners a tool in the field of PYD both domestically and internationally, addressing the concern of global application and sustainability criteria (e.g., resilience and happiness). First, we conducted a detailed literature review on existing PYD program assessment techniques. Next, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis, via SPSS and AMOS software, to establish the number of factors in the scale. The constructs of the five-<em>C</em>s model (Lerner, 2005; competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring) along with the sixth<em> C</em> (contribution) and happiness were confirmed into six factors. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using 2 samples from rural areas of Thailand and the Phoenix, Arizona, metro area (<em>n </em>= 580 and <em>n </em>= 407, respectively). Our analysis shows the factor structure was highly comparable with mean comparative fit indices of .930 (Thailand) and .933 (Phoenix metro) for Grades 9–12 and 3–6, respectively. Our study suggests that the tool can be used in different settings and demographics for PYD programs. Future studies should look at the impacts of PYD programs over long periods of time and in a wide range of grades, cultures, and countries to reaffirm multiple applications in various settings.
Available evidence highlights the detrimental impact of loneliness on the mental and physiological health of older adults. While immigrant older adults report higher prevalence for experiencing loneliness compared to native born older adults, minimal research has simultaneously explored the premigration, displacement, and postmigration experiences of loneliness among older adults with a refugee history. This study aimed to explore loneliness in these three phases among Hmong older adults, an ethnic minority group resettled in the United States as refugees over 40 years ago. Drawing on data from a constructivist grounded theory study guided by an intersectionality framework, the first author interviewed 17 community-dwelling Hmong older adults age 65 and older residing in Fresno and Sacramento, California. Two coders coded and analyzed the transcribed interviews. Findings revealed negative, disruptive, and discriminatory experiences underscored by systems of oppression grounded on the social, political, psychological, and cultural context of each phase. Influencing factors that contributed to loneliness were identified as: trust, loss, aging-related issues, isolation, sense of community, access to cultural community, instability, violence, and cultural adjustments. In specific phases, particular influencing factors were more evident and persistent in producing loneliness. Some influencing factors remained a problem for participants across all phases. With the unprecedented growth of refugees all over the world, this study highlights the need for more research, practice, and policy focused on the context of the refugee experience to gain greater insight into their loneliness experiences and expand the notion of loneliness as an individual experience.
Older refugees are especially susceptible to loneliness with their history of trauma, forced migration, and social isolation in host countries. Rates of loneliness among older immigrants range from 24% to 50%. Despite their heightened vulnerability to loneliness, coping mechanisms among this population remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine how community-dwelling Hmong older adults, an aging refugee group, cope with loneliness. The data was drawn from a larger constructivist grounded theory study aimed at understanding the loneliness experiences of community-dwelling Hmong older adults. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in the Hmong language with 17 Hmong age 65 and older residing in Northern California. Data was collected and analyzed in an iterative and comparative process using initial coding, focused coding, and connecting the focused codes to form categories and subcategories. Five coping mechanisms emerged from the data: (a) religious and spiritual beliefs; (b) social support; (c) wandering; (d) activity engagement; and (e) avoidance and control. Coping mechanisms utilized by Hmong older adults in this study highlighted the resilience of this aging population and the lack of culturally-relevant programs to prevent and address their persistent loneliness and emotional distress. Implications for research, practice, and policy suggests the need for greater culturally- and linguistically-competent services informed by Hmong older adults.
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