Social Networks among the Older Chinese Population in the USA: Findings from the PINE Study

Abstract

Background: Social network research has become central to studies of health and aging. Its results may yield public health insights that are actionable and improve the quality of life of older adults. However, little is known about the social networks of older immigrant adults, whose social relationships often develop in the context of migration, compounded by cultural and linguistic barriers. Objectives: This report aims to describe the structure, composition, and emotional components of social networks in the Chinese aging population of the USA, and to explore ways in which their social networks may be critical to their health decision-making. Methods: Our data come from the PINE study, a population-based epidemiological study of community-dwelling older Chinese American adults, aged 60 years and above, in the greater Chicago area. We conducted individual interviews in participants' homes from 2011 until 2013. Based on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, this study computed descriptive statistics and trend tests for the social network measures adapted from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project study. Results: The findings show that older Chinese adults have a relatively small social network in comparison with their counterparts from other ethnic and racial backgrounds. Only 29.6% of the participants could name 5 close network members, and 2.2% could name 0 members. Their network composition was more heavily kin oriented (95.0%). Relationships with network members differed according to the older adults' sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Subgroup variations included the likelihood of discussing health-related issues with network members. Conclusion: This study highlights the dynamic nature of social networks in later-life Chinese immigrants. For healthcare practitioners, developing cost-effective strategies that can mobilize social network support remains a critical undertaking in health intervention. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the causal impact of social networks on various domains of health.

Is Social Network a Protective Factor for Cognitive Impairment in US Chinese Older Adults? Findings from the PINE Study

“…Male older adults with lower education and income reported a higher proportion of kin. Male older adults with less education reported less closeness to their network members [27]. Thus, sociodemographic factors were controlled in data analysis, including age (in years), gender, education, annual income, years in the US, years in the community, medical comorbidities, overall health status, and health change in the past year [37,38,39].…”

“…In light of language and cultural barriers, it may be difficult to build new relationships in the foreign countries [24,25]. A London study with ethnically diverse groups found that immigrants reported limited network size [26], whereas a US Chinese study found social network to be largely homogeneous with a high proportion of kin [27]. For Chinese older adults, those with a majority kin social network may also experience close relationships with network members, in keeping with traditional familism values.…”

Age sequences of the elderly’ social network and its efficacies on well-being: an urban-rural comparison in China

“…In addition, the characteristics of social network formed by different social backgrounds and cultural traditions are different. Therefore, data of the sample from different regions also could lead to differences in research results [29,30].…”

Achieving Health Equity in Asian Populations

“…To understand health equity issues in the United States, especially among the Chinese, researchers have noted the importance of examining the sociocultural contexts of Chinese older adults ( Dong & Chang, 2017 ; Dong, Li, & Hua, 2017 ; Dong & Wang, 2017 ), which include examinations and considerations of how an immigrant’s home country may influence their health in late life ( Sohn & Harada, 2004 ; Zhang & Ta, 2009 ; Zhou, 2012 ). Although there is a rich body of literature on the health of Chinese older adults in China, there is relatively less research focusing on changing social dynamics and how these phenomena may impact well-being in later life for Chinese older adults globally.…”