Christianity and Subjective Wellbeing: A Study of Hong Kong

AbstractThis study investigates the relative importance of living with adult children and social participation for the elderly's subjective wellbeing (happiness) in three Chinese societies (Hong Kong, urban China and Taiwan). We use data from the 2011 wave of the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics (N = 1,658), the 2010 China Family Panel Studies in mainland China (N = 3,198) and the 2010 wave of the Taiwan Social Change Survey (N = 790). The ordinary least squares regression shows that, as the family value of society moves forward on a traditional–modern continuum, the elderly benefit more psychologically from social participation and less from living with children. The older people in Hong Kong who live independently with a spouse are in a significantly better emotional state than those living with adult children. Social participation is positively associated with subjective wellbeing among the aged in Hong Kong but not among those in urban China and Taiwan. The findings suggest that encouraging social involvement is important for effective public policy to tackle rapid population ageing in Chinese societies.

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Subjective wellbeing, suicide and socioeconomic factors: an ecological analysis in Hong Kong

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s2045796018000124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 112-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C.-Y. Hsu ◽

S.-S. Chang ◽

P. S. F. Yip

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Small Area ◽

Subjective Wellbeing ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Health Indicators ◽

District Level ◽

Suicide Rates

Aims.There has recently been an increased interest in mental health indicators for the monitoring of population wellbeing, which is among the targets of Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. Levels of subjective wellbeing and suicide rates have been proposed as indicators of population mental health, but prior research is limited.Methods.Data on individual happiness and life satisfaction were sourced from a population-based survey in Hong Kong (2011). Suicide data were extracted from Coroner's Court files (2005–2013). Area characteristic variables included local poverty rate and four factors derived from a factor analysis of 21 variables extracted from the 2011 census. The associations between mean happiness and life satisfaction scores and suicide rates were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient at two area levels: 18 districts and 30 quantiles of large street blocks (LSBs; n = 1620). LSB is a small area unit with a higher level of within-unit homogeneity compared with districts. Partial correlations were used to control for area characteristics.Results.Happiness and life satisfaction demonstrated weak inverse associations with suicide rate at the district level (r = −0.32 and −0.36, respectively) but very strong associations at the LSB quantile level (r = −0.83 and −0.84, respectively). There were generally very weak or weak negative correlations across sex/age groups at the district level but generally moderate to strong correlations at the LSB quantile level. The associations were markedly attenuated or became null after controlling for area characteristics.Conclusions.Subjective wellbeing is strongly associated with suicide at a small area level; socioeconomic factors can largely explain this association. Socioeconomic factors could play an important role in determining the wellbeing of the population, and this could inform policies aimed at enhancing population wellbeing.

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The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pandemic in Hong Kong: Effects on the subjective wellbeing of elderly and younger people

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607860802380607 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 746-760 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Anna L.D. Lau ◽

Iris Chi ◽

Robert A. Cummins ◽

Tatia M.C. Lee ◽

Kee-L. Chou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Subjective Wellbeing

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Interaction of Physical Activity and Personality in the Subjective Wellbeing of Older Adults in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs8080071 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Bill Cheuk Long Chan ◽

Michelle Luciano ◽

Billy Lee

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Subjective Wellbeing ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

The Relationship

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) has been widely accepted as one of the most important elements of successful ageing. The present study explores the impact of two well-established correlates of SWB: physical activity and personality. Physical activity and each of the Big Five personality traits are consistent predictors of SWB, but there has been little research on whether certain personality traits enhance or hinder the psychological benefits of physical activity in older adults. This study examines the interactions of leisure-time physical activity and personality traits on SWB, and whether such interactions vary between older adults in Hong Kong (HK) and older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). Altogether, 349 participants (178 HK, 171 UK; 157 males, 192 female) aged 50 years or above (mean age = 61.84 ± 8.46 years old) completed an online assessment of: (1) leisure-time physical activity (Godin–Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire); (2) personality traits (Big Five Inventory); and (3) SWB (Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Results showed that agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, and physical activity were all significantly related to SWB in the expected direction. The relationship between physical activity and SWB was moderated by extraversion and by openness to experience: higher levels of these two traits significantly enhanced the relationship. None of the interactions varied between the HK and UK samples. The expected negative relationship between neuroticism and SWB, however, was significantly stronger in the UK sample than in the HK sample. The findings of the present study indicate that personality needs to be considered when promoting and providing physical activity for older adults, although more research is needed to further explore how this can work effectively.

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