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What makes you good and happy? Effects of internal and external resources to adaptation and psychological well-being for the disabled elderly in Taiwan
- Authors:
- HSU Hui-Chuan, TUNG Ho-Jui
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 14(7), September 2010, pp.851-860.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study explores the reasons why some elderly people can adapt to disability and maintain a high degree of psychological well-being by investigating the effect of internal adaptation and external resources on psychological well-being. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with physically disabled elderly people, including institutional and community-based long-term care service users in middle Taiwan. The number of persons interviewed was 563, of whom 505 completed the survey and met the disability criteria. Internal resources (coping strategies and self-management of health) and external resources (social support and environmental support) were hypothesised to be related to difficulty in adapting to disability, and had a further impact on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. The results showed that acceptance-action coping strategies were beneficial in the adaptation process and in psychological well-being, and self-management of health was positively related to successful adaptation. Social support and environmental support were beneficial to adaptation and psychological well-being, although the effects were modest. In general, the effect of internal resources was larger than the external resources to adaptation and psychological well-being.
Constructing area-level indicators of successful aging in Taiwan
- Authors:
- HSU Hui-Chuan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 18(1), January 2010, pp.70-81.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The purpose of this study was to explore the dimensions of successful aging at the area-level in Taiwan and to suggest useful indicators for measuring the degree of successful aging in communities. Area-level successful aging was defined as follows “the living environment in a community/city is beneficial for physical, psychological and social health, and the people living in the area are well informed about the issues that pertain to maintaining health and behave in ways that promote their health”. Eight experts were used to determine appropriate dimensions and indicators. In total, 65 indicators of area-level successful aging were suggested. The weights of the 6 dimensions of the area indicators were determined as follows: health status (0.273), health lifestyle (0.182), social participation (0.166), health-care resources and utilisation (0.164), social environment (0.113), and natural environment (0.102). Nationwide survey data and government statistics were used to describe the profiles of 23 cities and counties in Taiwan with respect to successful aging. There were significant differences in health lifestyle and natural environment according to geographic location. These area indicators will be helpful to local governments for monitoring and improving successful ageing within their communities.