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Acculturation and functional disability among older Vietnamese-Americans
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 23(1), 2014, pp.20-35.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined the association between acculturation and functional disability among Vietnamese-Americans ages 65 and older. Data came from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 3.0 of the U.S. Census data. This sample consisted of 2,610 older Vietnamese-Americans representing 5.2% of Vietnamese-Americans from the 2000 U.S. Census data. The authors examined three alternative structural equation models depicting the association between acculturation and functional disability while controlling for possible influences of selected covariates: age, sex, education, income, and length of residence in the United States. Findings indicated that the model depicting the effect of acculturation on functional disability had a better fit than the model depicting the effect of functional disability on acculturation. The non-recursive model, which tested the reciprocal association between acculturation and functional disability, provided strong evidence for the effect of acculturation on functional disability. Findings of the study suggest that researchers should examine the complexity of acculturation and functional disability in the context of immigrants’/refugees’ age and pre-migration experiences. Where immigrants and refugees come from plays a key role in their acculturation and health status. Immigrant and refugee services should focus not only on general acculturation skills, but also on health acculturation skills. (Publisher abstract)
International policy perspectives on independence in old age
- Author:
- PLATH Debbie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 21(2), April 2009, pp.209-223.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Although the promotion of independence is a common feature of policies on older people across the world, independence has a variety of meanings that are shaped by different social, political and economic contexts and by different values and attitudes towards older people. This study compares policies in Australia, Denmark, India and the UK. In Australia and the UK, liberal democratic values translate into support for individual independence in old age. In Denmark, a strong emphasis on social responsibility and the right to public services means that choice, rather than independence, for older people is the prime focus. In India, independence is of less significance in the context of economic constraints and strong social values supporting family responsibility for the care of older people. This analysis raises important questions about the promotion of independence as a goal in the aging policies of international bodies such as the UN and WHO.
Age differences in spirituality, mystical experiences and wisdom
- Author:
- LEE Thao N.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 28(3), April 2008, pp.383-411.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Although philosophical and contemplative traditions suggest that religiousness and spirituality are associated with wisdom, few empirical studies have examined the relationship. This paper investigates the associations between spirituality and mystical experiences and two types of wisdom: practical wisdom, primarily the ability to understand and resolve difficult life dilemmas (or an ‘expert’ knowledge system and the highest level of synthesised mental functioning), and transcendent wisdom, which goes beyond personal self-interests, biases and perceptions, and involves the ability to see things or others as they are directly. Two studies are reported. The first is of mostly older European-American and Vietnamese-American adults. It was found that mystical experiences promoted transcendent wisdom, but that the effect was moderated by self-enhancement values of power, status and achievement. The Vietnamese-American adults who reported mystical experiences and endorsed high self-enhancement values scored the lowest on transcendent wisdom. Being part of a religious or spiritual community positively associated with transcendent wisdom. On the other hand, religiousness, spirituality and mystical experiences did not relate to practical wisdom. The second study was of European-American and Vietnamese-American young adult students. It found that institutional and personal religious/spiritual practice was associated with two self-report measures of wisdom. Regardless of the mechanisms and processes associated with spirituality and mystical experiences, its fruits appear to be associated with transcendent wisdom.
Cultural aspects of food choices in various communities of elders
- Authors:
- BERMUDEZ Odilia I., TUCKER Katherine L.
- Journal article citation:
- Generations, 28(3), 2004, pp.22-27.
- Publisher:
- American Society on Aging
Food-related practices of older people from any ethnic group can present challenges. When working with elders in the multicultural USA it is critical to consider ethnic, cultural and social aspects. Describes behaviours and patterns and lists requirements and suggested approaches, factors affecting elders' participation, and characteristics of a culturally competent nutrition professional
Transformations of care of the aged among Africans: a study of the Kenyan situation
- Author:
- NYANGWESO M.A.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 2(3), August 1998, pp.181-185.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In traditional African cultures caring for the aged was a natural and expected part of life and also had its roots in strong religious beliefs. Modernisation in Africa has changed the status and care of the aged. Reports on the views 384 people in Kenya from a range of age groups and includes aged people in rural communities and in institutions. The vast majority of people thought that traditionally the aged were respected and revered. Despite this nearly three-quarters felt that the aged were inactive and almost all said that the aged had withdrawn from society because they felt they did not belong. Results suggest that more should be done to help the aged remain active and be more involved in society in general.
Inner beliefs
- Author:
- FROGGATT Alison
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 15.8.91, 1991, pp.15-16.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Argues that a thorough assessment of elderly people should take account of each person's cultural and religious identity.
Forgotten but not gone: older Irish with dementia in England
- Author:
- TIKI Mary
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 25(3), 2017, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
This article discusses the cultural needs of older Irish people in England. The author points out that their specific needs are often overlooked, as ethnicity is often seen in terms of skin colour. However, it is argued that the cultural differences of Irish older people become important when memory fail. The article looks at what this means for the provision of culturally sensitive dementia care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Revitalizing roles of older adult citizens: successful stories of project history alive
- Author:
- YANG Pei-Shan
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 38(2), 2013, pp.137-148.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
The speed of population ageing in Taiwan is among the fastest in the world. However, traditional values constrain older adults’ social role within fixed stereotypes like dependence, weakness, stubbornness, and an inability to learn. This study applies life course theory and role theory to investigate whether older adults can successfully play new social roles on stage as well as in their natural life context. Qualitative research methods are used, based on focus group interviews with key informants and organisational documents of the History Alive project. Results show that though the stage roles may be very different from their natural social roles, through repeated rehearsal and guided practice, older adults learned to play the expected new roles. Through interaction with school children and the student theatre crew who invited the older adults to participate, History Alive participants shared their experiences and enjoyed themselves in a natural environment. The experience of older adults and youth getting to know one another through in-person social interaction removed stereotypes on both sides. Existing older adult stereotypes are no longer appropriate and must be replaced with new and real roles. However, in order to do so, older adults need long-term supportive social structures, social networks, study resources, good courses, and professional teachers. Learning stands out as an important core concept from this analysis. With longer average life expectancy, individuals and society have to learn how to develop new and diverse older adult roles. More investment is required to expand the program to non-metropolitan or rural areas. (Publisher abstract)
The relationships between major lifetime discrimination, everyday discrimination, and mental health in three racial and ethnic groups of older adults
- Authors:
- AYALON Liat, GUM Amber
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(5), July 2011, pp.587-594.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examined the relationship between exposure to discrimination and mental health in three racial groups in the United States. Data from the Health and Retirement Study identified 6,455 White, 716 Latino, and 1,214 Black participants who completed a self-report psychosocial questionnaire in 2006. Thirty per cent of the general population and 45% of Blacks reported at least one type of discrimination. Latinos were significantly less likely to report any everyday discrimination. Blacks reported the greatest frequency of everyday discrimination. Whites reported the highest levels of life satisfaction and the lowest levels of depressive symptoms. Relative to major lifetime discrimination, everyday discrimination had a somewhat stronger correlation with mental health indicators. The relationships between discrimination and mental health outcomes were stronger for White compared to Black older adults. While Black older adults experience the greatest number of discriminative events, they experienced weaker associated mental health outcomes; perhaps because they had become accustomed to these experiences or benefited from social or cultural resources that serve as buffers
Older people, ethnicity and social support
- Author:
- WILLIS Rosalind
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 18(4), October 2008, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
This article introduces the aims of a PhD study which plans to look at levels of support among older people from different ethnic groups. In particular the research aims to investigate the cultural, economic and social factors which predict support provision.