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BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES Prior research has shown that social engagement is beneficial to older adults' health and well‐being. This study examined the association between environmental factors and social engagement of older Chinese immigrants in the United States. SAMPLE A cross‐sectional data set of Chinese immigrants in the greater Chicago, IL, area (Population Study of Chinese Elderly; n = 3159), was used in this study. DESIGN Multiple regression models were used to test the associations between older adults' engagement in cognitive and social activities and environmental factors, including financial difficulties, social support, neighborhood cohesion, neighborhood disorder, and sense of community. MEASUREMENT Eight questions measuring participants' engagement in cognitive and social activities, a single‐item question measuring financial difficulties, a 12‐item social support measurement, an eight‐item neighborhood cohesion measurement, and a six‐item neighborhood disorder and sense of community scale. RESULTS: Having fewer financial difficulties and a cohesive neighborhood is related to a higher level of engagement in both cognitive and social activities. More social support from family and friends and a sense of community are associated with higher levels of social activities engagement, but not cognitive activity engagement. Neighborhood cohesion has a stronger association with social engagement than other environmental factors and most individual‐level factors. Surprisingly, neighborhood disorder is positively related to social activity engagement, which needs further examination. The associations between environmental factors and social engagement showed no significant difference between healthy and unhealthy older adults. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for policies and programs to promote an active lifestyle among older immigrants by creating facilitative social and physical environments. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S571–S576, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Focusing on Chinese immigrants, this study examined (1) whether filial obligation, the core social norm in the Chinese culture, is related to caregiving burdens; and (2) whether level of acculturation of the caregivers moderates the above relationships. DESIGN Cross‐sectional. SETTING Chicago, Illinois. PARTICIPANTS A purposive sample of 393 Chinese adult immigrants who were primary caregivers of parents aged 60 years or older. MEASURES Sense of filial obligation was captured by felt responsibility toward parents in six domains (respect, make happy, care, greet, obey, and provide financial support). Caregiving burdens were measured by the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Acculturation was measured by 12 questions about respondents' language preference in different settings and ethnicity of individuals they interact with. RESULTS: A stronger sense of filial obligation was significantly associated with lower levels of developmental (β = −.15), emotional (β = −.18), social (β = −.20), and physical (β = −.10) burdens. For subjective burdens (developmental, social burdens), such a protective effect of filial obligation was stronger among caregivers with lower acculturation levels. For more objective burdens (time‐dependent, physical burdens), stronger filial obligation was actually associated with greater burdens among caregivers with higher acculturation levels. CONCLUSION: Programs focusing on celebrating the cultural heritage of immigrants and improving the relationship between the parents and children may be helpful to reduce caregiving burdens. Intervention programs that help Chinese immigrant caregivers to find the most appropriate way to balance traditional and new social norms are important to provide successful care to aging Chinese immigrants. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S564–S570, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES To examine the associations between typology of family relationship and risk of elder mistreatment (EM). DESIGN Population‐based epidemiological cross‐sectional study. SETTING Community‐dwelling older adults in the greater Chicago area. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3157 US older Chinese immigrants. MEASUREMENTS EM was measured by a brief screening tool. Latent class analysis was used to construct typologies of family relationship from eight indicators, evaluating the structural, associational, functional, affectual, and normative aspects of family relationship. Logistic regression models were used to test the associations between typology of family relationship and EM. RESULTS: Unobligated ambivalent type (44.77%) was the most common family type among US older Chinese immigrants. The prevalence of EM was around 15%, with 475 participants reporting experience of EM. Unobligated ambivalent (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54‐2.34) and detached (OR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.32‐2.42) family types were associated with greater risk of EM; tight‐knit (OR = .34; 95% CI = .27‐.44) family type was associated with lower risk of EM. The relationship between commanding conflicted family type and EM was not significant. CONCLUSION: Unobligated ambivalent family type, featured by high emotional closeness and high family conflict, was prevalent among US Chinese families and associated with EM consequences. Culturally customized social services are suggested to reduce intergenerational ambivalence and promote family harmony for immigrant families. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S493–S498, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examined the potential influence of coping resources at individual (sense of mastery), family (spousal and family support, children's filial piety), and community levels (community cohesion) on the mental health (depression, anxiety) of U.S. Chinese older adults. Methods: The data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (N= 3,159). Negative binomial regressions were performed to predict depression and anxiety, respectively, by entering the three sets of coping resources separately and jointly, controlling for socio-demographic and acculturation variables. Results: Stronger sense of mastery and greater perception of children's filial piety were associated with better mental health outcomes. Spousal support was not associated with any mental health outomes, and family support was actually assciated with greater depression and anxiety. Stronger community cohesion was associated with fewer depressive symptoms but greater anxiety. Conclusion: Older immigrants' sense of control and perception that children adhere to traditional family norms are important mental health protective factors. Whereas depending on families for support may compromise their well-being, community cohesion could be a double-edged sword for their mental health. Future studies shall further disentangle the associations among sense of mastery, reliance on family and ethnic enclaves for support, and older immigrants' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recent scholarship focuses on the importance of religion to ethnic minorities and immigrants, relatively little attention has been given to how faith and spirituality help Asian immigrant elderly cope with life's challenges. This exploratory study was undertaken via in-depth interviews with 12 Chinese American older adults to further explore the meaning of suffering and faith as a coping mechanism for these challenges. Findings reveal that these respondents have developed particular adaptive strategies in managing their life challenges incorporating socio-emotional, cognitive, and instrumental aspects. Religious/spiritual coping was found to be embedded with respondents' values, faith, and cultural beliefs, and seem to be an important factor in developing effective coping strategies. Implications for the importance of culturally sensitive social work practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the use of informal and formal social supports among ninety-three elderly Chinese immigrants residing in California. A historical and cultural overview of the Chinese immigrant experience is presented as a contextual framework. Results showed that family and kin were perceived as the most satisfying sources of support. Barriers to utilization of formal services and agencies were lack of knowledge of services, language differences and lack of transportation. The implications of these results within the changing dynamics of Chinese-American families are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]