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The present study examined the factors associated with self-rated health (SRH) and self-rated mental health (SRMH) in a sample of 108 older Chinese Americans (MeanAge = 70.6, SD = 7.70). SRH and SRMH were highly associated with each other. In the multiple regression models, chronic conditions and functional disability emerged as significant predictors of poor SRH and SRMH. However, the significance of depressive symptoms was only obtained in the model of SRMH. The findings reflect the body-mind connection among older Chinese Americans and provide implications for integrative health promotion efforts.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Among older adults, intergenerational support can help to improve well‐being. This study examines the correlation between intergenerational relationships and the subjective well‐being among older Chinese immigrants in the United States. DESIGN Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were applied to test the association between intergenerational relationships and self‐rated well‐being. The mediating effects of sense of control and the moderation effects of support from friends were also tested. SAMPLE A cross‐sectional sample of 2717 older Chinese immigrants, aged 60 years and older, with children and grandchildren was drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly. MEASUREMENTS Study measures included four items concerning intergenerational relationships: the Pearlin Mastery Scale, two items on seeking support from friends, and single items measuring self‐rated health status and quality of life. RESULTS: Only the feeling of closeness with children was positively linked with subjective well‐being, while coresidence and frequency of talking were not. Support from friends moderated the association with self‐rated health status, while sense of control partially mediated the association between feeling of closeness and both self‐rated health status and quality of life. CONCLUSION: A stronger sense of closeness with children correlates to self‐rated health status and quality of life among older Chinese immigrants. The effects of sociocultural changes affecting Chinese American families, and potential implications for older adults' health, could be addressed through strategies to develop emotional closeness with their families and to support sense of control and well‐being among older Chinese adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S557–S563, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To examine the influence of smoking status on the health profiles of community‐dwelling older Chinese American men in the greater Chicago, IL, area. DESIGN This study utilized a cross‐sectional study design to analyze data obtained from the larger Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). SETTING A population‐based study conducted in Chicago. PARTICIPANTS Baseline data from Chinese American men who participated in PINE (N = 1492). MEASURES Demographic characteristics measured included age, education years, marital status, income, health insurance coverage, and smoking pack‐years. Self‐reported smoking status included never smoker, current smoker, and former smoker. Health profile indicators included perceived health status, past 12‐month changes in health, chronic medical conditions (heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, and osteoarthritis), quality of life, and depression and anxiety. RESULTS: The mean age of the study sample was 72.5 years. Of the sample, 65% reported a smoking history, with 25.1% current smokers and 40.1% former smokers. Current smokers were younger, less educated, and uninsured. Former smokers had the poorest overall health profiles. Compared to former smokers, current smokers were less likely to have heart disease (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39‐0.90), hypertension (OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.41‐0.72), high cholesterol (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56‐0.99), thyroid disease (OR = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.21‐0.90), depression (rate ratio [RR] = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.58‐0.99), and anxiety (RR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.59‐0.89), and they had fewer overall chronic medical conditions (RR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.70‐0.88) after controlling for demographic factors and smoking pack‐year history. Compared to never smokers, former and current smokers reported poorer self‐rated health (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.11‐2.26) and lower perceived quality of life (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.04‐4.29). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with prior research, smoking rates were elevated among this sample of older Chinese men. Counter to study hypotheses, former smokers had worse overall health. Study findings suggest the need for health promotion interventions for both current and former smokers. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S577–S583, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Dry mouth is a common condition among older adults that negatively influences oral health, general health, and quality of life. The role of psychosocial factors in oral health conditions and diseases remains largely unknown. We conducted a study to examine the relationship between perceived stress and dry mouth among US older Chinese adults and further investigated the potential moderating role of social support and social strain from different sources in the relationship. DESIGN Cross‐sectional analysis. SETTING Baseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, a community‐engaged, population‐based longitudinal study of health and well‐being among community‐dwelling US older Chinese adults. PARTICIPANTS Individuals 60 years or older (N = 3157). MEASUREMENTS Perceived stress was measured by the 10‐item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale to evaluate the degree to which life situations were perceived as stressful during the preceding month on a 5‐point scale, ranging from 0 ("never") to 4 ("very often"). Dry mouth was a binary self‐reported outcome variable (1 = "dry mouth"). Social support was measured by the Health and Retirement Study's social support and strain scale from sources including spouse, other family members, and friends with a 3‐point response set, ranging from 0 ("hardly ever") to 2 ("often"). Sociodemographics and disease processes were assessed as covariates. We conducted stepwise logistic regressions with interaction terms. RESULTS: Having higher levels of perceived stress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting dry mouth (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.02‐1.04). The effect of perceived stress on dry mouth may vary by levels of family and friend support. CONCLUSION: Perceived stress may influence dry mouth either directly or indirectly. To prevent or reduce dry mouth, in addition to disease processes, interventions need to consider psychosocial factors in dry mouth, especially perceived stress and social support, in this growing population. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S551–S556, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study identified the prevalence of depression and tested the influence of acculturation and family dynamics on depressive symptoms, among a community sample of older Chinese Americans. Method: Data came from a survey of 385 Chinese Americans aged 55 and older (Mage = 72.4 years, SD = 8.7) living in a large metropolitan area in the American Southwest. The survey was administered in 2013 through face-to-face interviews. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 12-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Results: Approximately 19.5% of the sample reported mild depressive symptoms and an additional 8.5% reported moderate depressive symptoms. Three-step hierarchical regression analyses indicated that smaller family support network size and more family conflict were risk factors for depressive symptoms. The effect of acculturation was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms after controlling for family dynamics. Discussion: Family support and conflict play a prominent role in explaining depressive symptoms among Chinese American older adults. The effect of acculturation is minimal when older adults have supportive families and good health. Interventions or services aimed at promoting family harmony for members of this population should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the associations of neighborhood characteristics and living arrangements with physical and mental health among older Chinese Americans. Method: A sample of 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese older adults in the Greater Chicago area provided reports of health, socio-demographic characteristics, living arrangements, social cohesion, and neighborhood disorder. We used multinomial logistic, Poisson, and negative binominal regression analyses. Results: Neighborhood disorder was consistently associated with negative health indicators, including poor self-reported health, more chronic conditions, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Findings about the relationships between social cohesion and health indicators were mixed. Social cohesion was more salient to mental health for those living with spouse, children, and/or grandchildren relative to those living with spouse only. Discussion: Policies and interventions are needed to improve the physical and social environments of neighborhoods and to promote healthy aging among Chinese older adults and in the general population as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor presents compiled 17 articles that examine the health and well-being of Chinese older adults through the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE) and PIETY studies, the largest epidemiological cohort studies of Chinese older adults and Chinese adult children in the United States.