Development and Validation of a Life Satisfaction Scale for Chinese Elders

Abstract

This study reports the development and validation of a culturally sensitive, domain-specific measure of life satisfaction for Chinese Elders--The Life Satisfaction Scale--Chinese (LSS-C). The LSS-C was administered to 1,502 randomly-selected older Chinese persons in three newly developed towns in Mainland China. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a conceptually meaningful two-factor model-one of instrumental needs of daily life and one of social and relational needs. Criterion-related validity was satisfactory when positively correlated with a single-item global life satisfaction measure and the Life Satisfaction Index A, and negatively correlated with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The reliability of the eight-item scale was satisfactory, with the internal consistency coefficient equal to .78 and the split half coefficient equal to .81. LSS-C was direct and easy to administer, and it is recommended for use on Chinese elders.

Chinese older adults’ resilience to the loneliness of living alone: A qualitative study

“…Studies have reported that an inclination to family traditions is positively associated with life satisfaction and negatively associated with depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults (Lou, Chi, & Mjelde-Mossey, 2008;Mjelde-Mossey, Chi, & Lou, 2006). It is not culturally desired or expected for Chinese older adults to live alone.…”

“…The Chinese society in Hong Kong has been experienced changes including downsized household, lowered fertility, and more open-minded to individual-oriented family values by younger generation (Chow, 2009). Under such a social context, living alone older adults who were resilience to loneliness seemed to achieve a balance between their desire to adhere to Chinese tradition and the reality change (Lou, Chi, & Mjelde-Mossey, 2008;Mjelde-Mossey, Chi, & Lou, 2006). Second, the self-management strategies that the interviewees used were largely relationally focused; in other words, it was self-management for the sake of collective well-being, which enhanced their collective self-esteem.…”

Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in Hong Kong: The Role of Social Support from Grandchildren

“…The contributing forces of global life satisfaction for Chinese elders can be categorized into two factorssocial and relational needs factors and basic needs factors (Lou et al 2008a). The current generation of elders in China, including Hong Kong, experienced a great many hardships earlier in life; such as the Second World War, Civil war, and changes of governance, to name a few.…”

“…For example, while factors associated with quality of life focused more on health and functioning aspects of life in western literature, the Chinese literature focused more on the social and relational aspects of life (Chan et al 2000;Lau et al 1998;Silverman et al 2000). Studies on the life satisfaction of Chinese elders also showed that the fulfillment of social and relational needs was a significant aspect of life satisfaction (Lou et al 2008a); while support from family members, including children and grandchildren, could have a moderating effect on physical illness and psychological distress (Song and Chi 2001). Population aging provides opportunities for a large proportion of older adults to live to an age where they have adolescent and/or adult grandchildren, an age at which the effects of intergenerational relations was found to be both rewarding and stressful (Lou and Chi 2008).…”

Relação entre apoio social e bem-estar subjetivo em idosos: revisão sistemática

“…Outro autor (28) utilizou uma versão dessa escala, que foi adaptada para o contexto chinês (29) . Para avaliar a dimensão afetiva do BES, a escala mais utilizada foi a Escala de Afetos Positivos e Negativos (Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale -PANAS) (23)(24)(25)30) .…”