TY - JOUR
T1 - Parent-adult child relations of chinese older immigrants in the United States
T2 - Is there an optimal type?
AU - Guo, Man
AU - Stensland, Meredith
AU - Li, Mengting
AU - Dong, Xinqi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].
PY - 2020/3/9
Y1 - 2020/3/9
N2 - Objectives: This study aims to identify (a) different types of parent-child relations among Chinese older immigrants, (b) predictors of each relation type, and (c) the most "optimal" type that is associated with better psychological well-being of the older adults. Methods: Data were derived from 3,109 Chinese elderly adults in Chicago. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify structures of parent-child relations based on eight indicators of family solidarity. Logistic regressions were used to predict the relation types. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between the relation types and depression and quality of life (QoL). Results: Four types of parent-child relations emerged: unobligated ambivalent (44.77%), tight-knit (40.11%), detached (10.28%), and commanding conflicted (4.84%). Older adults' age, gender, marital status, health status, and immigration/acculturation experience were related to their relation types. While tight-knit relation was associated with the fewest depressive symptoms, older adults with unobligated ambivalent relations were the least likely to report good QoL. Discussion: The study illustrates the diverse and complex ways in which Chinese older immigrants and their children are connected. The findings suggest that a departure from the traditional norm of filial piety may present a risk factor for this population's mental health.
AB - Objectives: This study aims to identify (a) different types of parent-child relations among Chinese older immigrants, (b) predictors of each relation type, and (c) the most "optimal" type that is associated with better psychological well-being of the older adults. Methods: Data were derived from 3,109 Chinese elderly adults in Chicago. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify structures of parent-child relations based on eight indicators of family solidarity. Logistic regressions were used to predict the relation types. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between the relation types and depression and quality of life (QoL). Results: Four types of parent-child relations emerged: unobligated ambivalent (44.77%), tight-knit (40.11%), detached (10.28%), and commanding conflicted (4.84%). Older adults' age, gender, marital status, health status, and immigration/acculturation experience were related to their relation types. While tight-knit relation was associated with the fewest depressive symptoms, older adults with unobligated ambivalent relations were the least likely to report good QoL. Discussion: The study illustrates the diverse and complex ways in which Chinese older immigrants and their children are connected. The findings suggest that a departure from the traditional norm of filial piety may present a risk factor for this population's mental health.
KW - Family structure
KW - Intergenerational relations
KW - Migration
KW - Minority aging
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85070918096
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85070918096#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbz021
DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbz021
M3 - Article
C2 - 30778555
AN - SCOPUS:85070918096
SN - 1079-5014
VL - 75
SP - 889
EP - 898
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
IS - 4
ER -