Living Arrangements and Subjective Well-being of the Elderly in China and Japan

Author(s):  
Tsukasa Matsuura ◽  
Xinxin Ma
1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Takahashi ◽  
Junko Tamura ◽  
Makiko Tokoro

On the premise that social relationships among elderly adults differ in terms of the most significant, dominant figure, this study aimed to examine: (1) whether there were qualitative differences in supportive functions between family-dominant and friend-dominant affective relationships, and (2) whether “lone wolves”, who were deficient in human resources, had difficulties in maintaining their well-being. A total of 148 Japanese, over the age of 65, both living in communities and in institutions were individually interviewed about their social relationships using a self-report type method, the Picture Affective Relationships test, and their well-being was assessed using Depression, Self-esteem, Life satisfaction, and Subjective health scales. Results showed that there were no differences in psychological well-being between family-dominant and friend-dominant participants, but those who lacked affective figures had lower scores in subjective well-being than did their family-dominant and friend-dominant counterparts. The generalisation of these findings to other cultures is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongsheng Chen ◽  
Zhenjun Zhu

Abstract BackgroundChina is becoming an aging society. The emotional health of the elderly is gaining importance. Social trust is an important factor affecting emotional health, but existing studies have rarely considered the various effects of different types of social trust on rural elderly emotional health. Few studies have analysed the role of subjective well-being and subjective social status in the relationship between social trust and elderly emotional health.MethodsUsing the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 (CLDS 2016) and regression models, this study selected 2084 rural respondents aged 60 years and above to analyse the impact of social trust on their emotional health. Social trust was divided into three categories: trust in family members, trust in friends, and trust in neighbours. This study also examined the mediating and moderating effects of subjective well-being and subjective social status on the relationship between social trust and emotional health.ResultsTrust in family members was significantly and positively associated with emotional health (coefficient=0.194, P<0.01) and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.177, P<0.01). Trust in friends was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.097, P<0.01; coefficient=0.174, P<0.01, respectively). Trust in neighbours was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.088, P<0.01; coefficient=0.177, P<0.01; respectively). Subjective well-being effectively reduced the impact of social trust in family, friends, and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly by 0.023, 0.022, and 0.023, respectively. Trust in friends and neighbours significantly and positively affected respondents’ subjective social status (coefficient=0.120, P<0.05; coefficient=0.090, P<0.10; respectively). Subjective social status effectively reduced the impact of social trust in friends and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly both by 0.004. The positive relationship between trust in family members and emotional health is weakened by subjective well-being.ConclusionsSocial trust, especially family relationships, play an important role in maintaining the emotional health of the rural elderly. In response to population ageing, more social policies must be introduced to care for the rural elderly and help them lead a happy and satisfactory life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 1187-1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miha Dominko ◽  
Miroslav Verbič

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096154
Author(s):  
Wen-Jui Han ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Cliff Whetung

Using a sample of Chinese adults over the age of 50 from wave 1 of the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (n = 13,367), we investigated the relationship between living arrangements and subjective well-being (SWB) in regard to life satisfaction, happiness, and control. We also looked at the moderating role of resources, proxied by income and hukou status. Multivariate regression results indicate that living only with a spouse was significantly associated with better SWB. Multigenerational living arrangements may not always promote SWB, particularly when resources are constrained. Yet, results also underscore the importance of daughters and daughters-in-law in promoting SWB among older adults. Older adults in rural areas had better SWB, including greater life satisfaction if living with grandchildren only, compared to their urban peers living with a spouse only. Findings suggest that context matters in the association between living arrangements and older adults’ SWB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S602-S603
Author(s):  
Emma Zang ◽  
Yuan Zhang

Abstract Countries in East Asia have the largest aging population in the world. The consequences of aging largely depend on whether it is accompanied by a healthy, active, and high-quality life. This symposium aims to gain a better understanding of aging support and determinants of health in the contexts of two major East Asian countries - China and Japan. We will present new research using data from the Fukui Longitudinal Caregiver Study (FLCS) in Japan, and two most important aging surveys in China – the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), addressing critical topics including retirement, family care, social mobility, and mortality. Song and Smith investigate the impact of hukou change on mental health in later life. Zang examines the effect of a man’s retirement on his wife’s mental and physical health in China. Zhang et al. explore the determinants of mortality in China by conducting a comprehensive analysis of life-course conditions, community characteristics, biological and physical functioning, and disease burden. Zeng et al. compare demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral characteristics and health phenotypes of centenarians in China and Italy. Wakui et al. focus on the emergence of compound caregiving and the relationship of caregiving status to burden, depression, and social support in Japan. The cross-national comparisons will be informative regarding aging in various contexts. We will discuss the potential for further investigations using population-based aging data from different countries.


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