Social Networks among the Older Chinese Population in the USA: Findings from the PINE Study
Social Networks among the Older Chinese Population in the USA: Findings from the PINE Study
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DOI：
10.1159/000455043
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发表时间：
2017-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Chang, E-Shien
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dong, XinQi;Chang, E-Shien
背景：社交网络研究已成为健康和衰老研究的核心。其结果可能会产生可操作的公共卫生见解，并改善老年人的生活质量。然而，人们对老年移民的社交网络知之甚少，他们的社会关系往往是在移民背景下发展起来的，而且文化和语言障碍更加复杂。目标：本报告旨在描述美国中国老年人口的社交网络的结构、组成和情感成分，并探讨他们的社交网络对他们的健康决策至关重要的方式。方法：我们的数据来自 PINE 研究，这是一项针对大芝加哥地区 60 岁及以上社区居住的老年华裔美国成年人的人口流行病学研究。 2011 年至 2013 年，我们在参与者的家中进行了个人访谈。根据社会人口学和社会经济特征，本研究对改编自国家社会生活、健康和老龄化项目研究的社交网络指标进行了描述性统计和趋势检验。结果：研究结果表明，与其他民族和种族背景的老年人相比，中国老年人的社交网络相对较小。只有 29.6% 的参与者可以说出 5 名关系密切的网络成员，2.2% 的参与者可以说出 0 名成员。他们的网络构成更加以亲属为导向（95.0%）。与网络成员的关系根据老年人的社会人口统计和社会经济特征而有所不同。亚组差异包括与网络成员讨论健康相关问题的可能性。结论：本研究强调了晚年中国移民社交网络的动态性质。对于医疗保健从业者来说，制定能够动员社交网络支持的具有成本效益的策略仍然是健康干预中的一项关键任务。需要进行纵向研究来检验社交网络对健康各个领域的因果影响。 (C) 2017 S. Karger AG，巴塞尔
Background: Social network research has become central to studies of health and aging. Its results may yield public health insights that are actionable and improve the quality of life of older adults. However, little is known about the social networks of older immigrant adults, whose social relationships often develop in the context of migration, compounded by cultural and linguistic barriers. Objectives: This report aims to describe the structure, composition, and emotional components of social networks in the Chinese aging population of the USA, and to explore ways in which their social networks may be critical to their health decision-making. Methods: Our data come from the PINE study, a population-based epidemiological study of community-dwelling older Chinese American adults, aged 60 years and above, in the greater Chicago area. We conducted individual interviews in participants' homes from 2011 until 2013. Based on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, this study computed descriptive statistics and trend tests for the social network measures adapted from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project study. Results: The findings show that older Chinese adults have a relatively small social network in comparison with their counterparts from other ethnic and racial backgrounds. Only 29.6% of the participants could name 5 close network members, and 2.2% could name 0 members. Their network composition was more heavily kin oriented (95.0%). Relationships with network members differed according to the older adults' sociodemo-graphic and socioeconomic characteristics. Subgroup variations included the likelihood of discussing health-related issues with network members. Conclusion: This study highlights the dynamic nature of social networks in later-life Chinese immigrants. For healthcare practitioners, developing cost-effective strategies that can mobilize social network support remains a critical undertaking in health intervention. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the causal impact of social networks on various domains of health. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel