Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T17:26:16.458Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Self-image and intergenerational relationships as correlates of life satisfaction in Chinese older adults: will gender make a difference?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2017

XUE BAI ,
YU GUO  and
YUAN YUAN FU
XUE BAI*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
YU GUO*
Affiliation:
School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, China.
YUAN YUAN FU
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
*
Address for correspondence: Xue Bai, GH338, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Yu Guo, Room 227, Qiushi Building, Renmin University, 59 Zhongshancun Street, Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Address for correspondence: Xue Bai, GH338, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Yu Guo, Room 227, Qiushi Building, Renmin University, 59 Zhongshancun Street, Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Promoting life satisfaction in later life has long been both a policy and practice challenge. This study examined the association between older adults' self-image and life satisfaction, and that between their intergenerational relationships and life satisfaction. Given that sources of wellbeing for older men and women may vary due to socially constructed realities in early life, gender differences were also investigated in the correlates of life satisfaction. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in 2014 with a sample of 1,099 older adults aged 60 years and over from four cities in China. Findings of this study showed that older adults’ self-image and intergenerational relationships were significantly associated with their life satisfaction after controlling for certain socio-demographic characteristics, and health and self-care ability. The correlates of life satisfaction were shown to differ between older men and women. Programmes and Services should be developed for older adults to explore and identify positive aspects of themselves, to improve their relationships with their adult children, and to foster a more positive image of ageing in wider society. In addition, service providers should take gender differences in correlates of life satisfaction into account in service and intervention programme development.

Keywords

Chinese older adultsgender differencesintergenerational relationshiplife satisfactionself-image
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 38 , Issue 7 , July 2018 , pp. 1502 - 1519
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bai, X. 2014. Images of ageing in society: a literature review. Journal of Population Ageing, 7, 3, 231–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bai, X. 2016. Alignment or struggle? Exploring socio-demographic correlates of individual modernity modes in Chinese older people. Ageing & Society, 36, 1, 133–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bai, X., Chan, K. S. and Chow, N. W. S. 2012. Validation of self-image of ageing scale for Chinese elders. Intergenerational Journal of Ageing and Human Development, 74, 1, 67–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bai, X. and Chow, N. 2013. Chinese elders’ self-image and their perceived peer-image: possibility of self-enhancement bias. International Journal of Ageing and Human Development, 77, 1, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bai, X., Lai, D. W. L. and Guo, A. 2016. Ageism and depression: perceptions of older people as a burden in China. Journal of Social Issues, 72, 1, 26–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baird, B. M., Lucas, R. E. and Donnellan, M. B. 2010. Life satisfaction across the lifespan: findings from two nationally representative panel studies. Social Indicators Research, 99, 2, 183–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bengtson, V. L. and Roberts, R. E. 1991. Intergenerational solidarity in ageing families: an example of formal theory construction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 4, 856–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Binstock, R. H. 2007. Book reviews: feminism, ageing, and the life course perspective. The Gerontologist, 47, 5, 705–16.Google Scholar
Birditt, K. S., Jackey, L. M. H. and Antonucci, T. C. 2009. Longitudinal patterns of negative relationship quality across adulthood. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 64B, 1, 55–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borg, C., Hallberg, I. R. and Blomqvist, K. 2006. Life satisfaction among older people (65+) with reduced self-care capacity – the relationship to loneliness, overall health, physical activities, and economic aspects. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15, 5, 607–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bourque, P., Pushkar, D., Bonneville, L. and Béland, F. 2005. Contextual effects on life satisfaction of older men and women. Canadian Journal of Ageing (La Revue Canadienne du Vieillissement), 24, 1, 34–44.Google ScholarPubMed
Burton-Jeangros, C. and Zimmermann-Sloutskis, D. 2016. Life satisfaction trajectories of elderly women living in Switzerland: an age–period–cohort analysis. Ageing & Society, 36, 1, 106–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, C. C. and Petrick., J. F. 2013. Health and wellness benefits of travel experiences: a literature review. Journal of Travel Research, 52, 6, 709–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Y., Lehto, X. Y. and Cai, L. 2013. Vacation and well-being: a study of Chinese tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, 4, 284–310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chipperfield, J. G. and Havens, B. 2001. Gender differences in the relationship between marital status transitions and life satisfaction in later life. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56, 3, 176–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chow, N. and Bai, X. 2011. Modernization and its impact on Chinese older people's perception of their own image and status. International Social Work, 54, 6, 800–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chow, N. and Lum, T. 2008. Trends in Family Attitudes and Values in Hong Kong: Final Report to Central Policy Unit. Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong.Google Scholar
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J. and Griffin, S. 1985. The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 1, 71–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gagnon, L. M. and Patten, S. B. 2002. Major depression and its association with long-term medical conditions. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie), 47, 2, 149–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaymu, J. and Springer, S. 2010. Living conditions and life satisfaction of older Europeans living alone: a gender and cross-country analysis. Ageing & Society, 30, 7, 1153–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goh, E. C. L. 2009. Grandparents as childcare providers: an in-depth analysis of the case of Xiamen, China. Journal of Aging Studies, 23, 1, 60–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guo, M., Chi, I. and Silverstein, M. 2012. The structure of intergenerational relations in rural China: a latent class analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74, 5, 1114–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, Y. N. 2012. Family relations and life satisfaction of older people: a comparative study between two different hukous in China. Ageing & Society, 32, 1, 19–40.Google Scholar
Lai, D. W. L. and Bai, X. 2016. Chapter 15. Social work with diverse older adults. In Al-Krenawi, A., Graham, J. R. and Habibov, N. (eds), Diversity in Social Work in Canada. Oxford University Press, Toronto, ON, 345–72.Google Scholar
Lang, F. R. and Schutze, Y. 2002. Adult children's supportive behaviors and older parents’ subjective well-being: a developmental perspective on intergenerational relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 58, 4, 661–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawton, M. P. and Brody, E. M. 1969. Assessment of older people: self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. The Gerontologist, 9, 3, 179–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levy, B., Kasl, S. V. and Gill, T. 2004. Image of aging scale. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 99, 1, 208–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lou, W. Q. 2010. Life satisfaction of older adults in Hong Kong: the role of social support from grandchildren. Social Indicators Research, 95, 3, 377–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lüscher, K. 2002. Intergenerational ambivalence: further steps in theory and research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 3, 585–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lüscher, K. and Pillemer, K. 1998. Intergenerational ambivalence: a new approach to the study of parent–child-relations in later life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 2, 413–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meggiolaro, S. and Ongaro, F. 2015. Life satisfaction among older people in Italy in a gender approach. Ageing & Society, 35, 7, 1481–504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Musick, K. and Bumpass, L. 2012. Reexamining the case for marriage: union formation and changes in well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74, 1, 1–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Bureau of Statistics 2011. Major Figures on the Sixth Population Census of China. China Statistics Press. Available online at http://tongji.cnki.net/kns55/Navi/Yearbook.aspx?id=N2011110036&floor=1.[Accessed 10 Oct 2016]Google Scholar
National Bureau of Statistics 2014. Annual National Data 2014. Available online at http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2014/indexch.htm. [Accessed 10 Oct 2016]Google Scholar
Ngai, S. S. Y., Cheung, C. K., To, S. M., Liu, Y. and Song, H. Y. 2013. Parent–child relationships, friendship networks, and developmental outcomes of economically disadvantaged youth in Hong Kong. Children and Youth Services Review, 35, 1, 91–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, P. D., Martin, A. J. and Marsh, H. W. 2008. Factors predicting life satisfaction: a process model of personality, multidimensional self-concept, and life satisfaction. Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 18, 1, 15–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phillipson, C., Bernard, M., Phillips, J. and Ogg, J. 2001. The Family and Community Life of Older People: Social Networks and Social Support in Three Urban Communities. Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Prinzen, K. 2014. Intergenerational ambivalence: New perspectives on intergenerational relationships in the German welfare state. Ageing & Society, 34, 3, 428–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Read, S., Grundy, E. and Foverskov, E. 2015. Socio-economic position and subjective health and well-being among older people in Europe: a systematic narrative review. Ageing and Mental Health, 20, 5, 529–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stryker, S. 1980. Symbolic Interactionism: A Social Structural Version. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, California.Google Scholar
Ward, R. A. 2008. Multiple parent–adult child relations and well-being in middle and later life. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63B, 4, 239–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yan, E. and Tang, C. 2004. Elder abuse by caregivers: A study of prevalence and risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese families. Journal of Family Violence, 19, 5, 269–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Y. and Goza, F. 2006. Who will care for the elderly in China? A review of the problems caused by China's one-child policy and their potential solutions. Journal of Aging Studies, 20, 2, 151–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar