Living Alone and Depression Among Older Chinese Immigrants

Mui, Ada C.

doi:10.1300/j083v30n03_12

Cited by 94 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Western literature indicates that there is a strong relationship between living alone and depression in later life (Mui 1998;Russell and Taylor 2009). Previous research studies have recognized the effects of social exclusion on the health and well being of the aging population (Galabuzi and Labonte 2002;Podnieks 2006;Wilson et al 2007a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Social Exclusion on Depressive Symptoms: Elderly Chinese Living Alone in Shanghai, China

Tong

Lai

Zeng

et al. 2011

J Cross Cult Gerontol

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Research has identified social exclusion as one of the social determinants of health. There are risks of social exclusion in later life in recent years. However, despite the fact that China has the largest aging population in the world and reports a rapid growth in the proportion of older people living alone, research on the role of social exclusion on depression is limited. This study examined the effects of social exclusion on depressive symptoms in older Chinese who are living alone in China, based on the data from one Shanghai neighbourhood. The data used were obtained between August and October 2008 through face-to-face interviews, using a structured survey questionnaire, from a simple random sample of 228 Chinese 60 and older living alone in a Shanghai community. Depressive symptoms were measured by a 15-item Chinese version Geriatric Depression Scale. Social exclusion was represented by income adequacy, social relations, civic participation, and housing condition. Over 30% of participants reported symptoms of a mild or above mild level of depression. When controlled for the demographics and health variables in hierarchical multiple regression, social exclusion variables, represented by a lower level income adequacy, a less favourable housing condition, and feeling more lonely correlated significantly with more depressive symptoms. Contrary to previous studies on depression in the older adults in China, this study has obtained findings indicating that social exclusion variables are more important than other socio-demographic factors in the context of contemporary China. While two significant social exclusion variables (i.e. income and housing) are related to structural changes in the economic context in China, the intra-personal role of feeling lonely that ties strongly living alone and role of older adults in an increasingly competitive market economy should not be underestimated. To address depression and mental health of older Chinese who live alone, social policies and programs to reduce various forms of social exclusion should be developed. In additional to providing assistance in financial support and housing improvement, services to strengthen the social networks and social relations of these older people are essential.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Social Exclusion on Depressive Symptoms: Elderly Chinese Living Alone in Shanghai, China

Tong

Lai

Zeng

et al. 2011

J Cross Cult Gerontol

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“…The findings on the association between education and depression were less consistent. While Lai (Lai 2004) found a higher prevalence of depression among those with lower educational attainment among elderly Chinese Canadians, Mui (1999) found an association of the opposite direction among elderly Chinese Americans. Previous research has found significant differences in these sociodemographic factors (Portes and Rumbaut 2001;Schmid 2001), which is why it is necessary to control for them in this study.…”

Section: Predictors Of Depression Among Chinese Americansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depression Risks and Correlates among Different Generations of Chinese Americans: The Effects of Relationships with Friends and Relatives

Zhu¹

2017

Social Sciences

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An increasing body of literature has suggested that the public portrayal of Chinese Americans as a high-achieving, well-adjusting "model minority" might not reflect the entire reality of their mental health conditions. This study examined depression risks and correlates among different generations of Chinese Americans, using non-Hispanic whites as a comparison group. A nationally representative sample of Chinese Americans (n = 600) from the Comprehensive Psychiatric Epidemiological Survey was used. Results of the study indicate that Chinese Americans in general have a lower risk of depression than non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, the prevalence and correlates of depression do not show a linear trend of difference from first to second to third-or-higher generation Chinese Americans, and then to non-Hispanic whites; rather, the risk of depression and its association with social relational factors presents in distinctive patterns for first and second generation Chinese Americans, compared to third-or-higher generation Chinese Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Specifically, friend network and relative group play different roles in influencing depression for different generations of Chinese Americans. The findings contributed to the growing body of literature on acculturation and mental health among immigrants, shedding lights on the complicated sociocultural contexts that could influence the mental well-being of individuals. Mental health service providers need to be aware of the complex and nuanced association between social relational factors and depression in their prevention, management, and treatment efforts.

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“…In the process of acculturation, immigrants are constantly exposed to and challenged by acute and chronic stressors, which may negatively affect their psychological wellbeing. Prior studies have found that acculturative stressors are negatively associated with mental health among immigrants: Stressful life events (Diwan, Jonnalagadda, & Balaswamy, 2004;Shin et al, 2007), limited English proficiency (Chung, 2005;Diwan, 2008;Kuo & Tsai, 1986;Mui et al, 2007;Takeuchi et al, 2007), and chronic life strains including intergenerational conflicts and/or role changes in families (Mui, 1996;1998;Noh & Avison, 1996) and ambient strains such as poverty, lower socioeconomic status (Hovey, 2000;Mui & Shibusawa, 2008), and social discrimination (Noh & Kaspar, 2003). However, stressors do not give rise to stress unless they are appraised as stressful (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).…”

Section: Research Background and Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies have examined the relationship between acculturative stress and depression among Asian immigrant elders (Kuo, 1984;Mui & Kang, 2006;Mui & Shibusawa, 2008), Chinese immigrant elders (Mui, 1996(Mui, , 1998, Japanese American elders (Shibusawa & Mui, 2002), and Korean American elders Jang & Chiriboga, 2010;Kang et al, 2009;Mui, 2000;Noh & Avison, 1996;Pang, 1995). Facing physical, psychological, social, and economic risk factors associated with aging, Asian immigrant elders also undergo difficulties associated with acculturation, including shorter lengths of residence in the United States, cultural conflicts, poorer health, more acculturative stress, more financial strain, limited English proficiency, dependence on family, social isolation, and lack of social support-all risk factors to depression (Casado & Leung, 2002;Han et al, 2007;Kang et al, 2009;Mui, 2000;Mui & Kang, 2006;Shibusawa & Mui, 2002;Stokes, Thompson, Murphy, & Gallagher-Thompson, 2002).…”

Section: Research Background and Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Immigrant Elders Residing in Non-Korean Ethnic Enclaves

Rhee

2016

Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work

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Living Alone and Depression Among Older Chinese Immigrants

Cited by 94 publications

References 50 publications

Effects of Social Exclusion on Depressive Symptoms: Elderly Chinese Living Alone in Shanghai, China

Effects of Social Exclusion on Depressive Symptoms: Elderly Chinese Living Alone in Shanghai, China

Depression Risks and Correlates among Different Generations of Chinese Americans: The Effects of Relationships with Friends and Relatives

Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Immigrant Elders Residing in Non-Korean Ethnic Enclaves

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