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This study explored the longitudinal association between overall and individual sources of social support and global cognitive function in older adults.There was no significant association between perceived overall social support and global cognitive function over time (Our findings highlight the importance of examining perceived social support from specific elements of one's social networks, rather than in an aggregated variable. Although the positive effect of perceived support from children may be small to moderate, the findings could provide a target for interventions to protect the cognitive function of older adults.

Trust in physicians (TIP) plays a critical role in the health care utilization (HCU) of minority older adults and older immigrants. Although previous studies suggested that TIP was positively associated with primary care visits, negatively associated with Emergency Room (ER) visits and hospitalization among African Americans in the United States (U.S.), it is unclear whether and how TIP influences various types of HCU among Chinese older immigrants, a fast-growing group of minority older immigrants in the U.S. Furthermore, despite the important role insurance plays in HCU and health disparities, few studies have tested whether TIP influences the HCU of the insured and uninsured Chinese older immigrants differently. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role of TIP in three types of HCU (physician visits, ER visits, and hospitalization) among Chinese older immigrants and whether the associations differ by insurance status.The data were derived from theTIP was positively associated with the likelihood of physician visits (Odds Ratio [TIP played an important role in facilitating primary care visits among Chinese older immigrants regardless of insurance status. Additionally, TIP facilitated the ER visit and hospitalization among uninsured Chinese older immigrants.

Focusing on a less studied aspect of friendship and an overlooked type of loss, this study examined associations between loss of friends and psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants and whether such associations are moderated by age, gender, marital status, and social connection.This study used baseline data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Linear and logistic regressions tested whether the loss of friends was associated depressive symptoms, loneliness, and quality of life . Interaction terms were created to test the moderating effects .Losing friends was associated with a greater sense of loneliness but also a higher chance of reporting good quality of life. The association between the loss of friends and loneliness was stronger among married and young-old (59-69) participants . The association between the loss of friends and quality of life was stronger among young-old and old-old (70-79) participants and the participants with the high level of social connection.Findings shed light on the importance of the loss of friends in shaping psychological well-being among older immigrants. More research is needed to understand the needs of older friend survivors and develop relevant interventions.

To examine associations between social support and negative social interaction with past suicidal ideation (SI) at multiple time intervals. The study used cross-sectional data collected from 3157 US Chinese older adults in Chicago to assess past 2-week, 1-month, 1-year, and lifetime SI. Self-perceived social support and negative social interaction were measured. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations. People perceived more social support and less negative social interaction were 17-19% less likely to have SI. People perceived more social support were 14-20% less likely to have SI. Meanwhile, people perceived more negative social interaction were 28-37% more likely to have SI. The independent associations between different social interaction and SI are significant regardless of the time intervals. Research should pay attention not only to bolstering perceptions of social support, but also to strategies that help individuals cope with the influence of negative social interactions.

OBJECTIVES: Adult children play a significant role in ageing parents’ health and well-being. However, the evidence is mixed regarding whether the parent-child relations will affect older adults’ longevity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between filial discrepancy and mortality risk. METHOD: Data were derived from a prospective cohort study from 2011 to 2017 of US Chinese older adults aged 60 and above in the greater Chicago area, with a median of follow-up of 5.28 years. Filial discrepancy was assessed by the gap between filial expectation and receipt, including six domains (discrepancy in respect, greet, care, obey, make happy, and financial support). Mortality ascertained during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models were used. RESULTS: Among 3,021 participants, care expectation was least fulfilled while financial expectation was better fulfilled compared with other filial discrepancy domains. Compared with no respect discrepancy, older adults with respect expectation above receipt had higher risk of mortality (HR, 1.44; 95%CI, 1.07-1.94). Older adults with higher greet expectation than receipt experienced greater risk of mortality (HR, 1.56; 95%CI, 1.16-2.09) than those with no greet discrepancy. Older adults with care receipt above expectation had lower risk of mortality (HR, 0.75; 95%CI, 0.56-1.00). CONCLUSION: This study extends the relative standards model to investigate mortality outcomes. The findings add new insights to the association between parent-child relations and mortality risk. It is suggested that educational programs should focus on fostering young immigrants’ attitude and behavior to provide more respect and greeting for aging parents to strengthen the family protection role.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the relationship between quantity, quality, and composition of social networks and depressive symptoms among U.S. Chinese older adults. METHODS: Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE) (N = 3,157), a study of Chinese older adults aged 60 and above in Chicago. We assessed quantitative (network size and volume of contact), qualitative (emotional closeness), and composition (proportion kin, proportion female and proportion coresident) aspects of social networks. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were conducted. RESULTS: Older adults who had three to five network members with strong ties, a medium level of contact, and a high level of emotional closeness were less likely to experience depression than their counterparts. Quantitative and qualitative dimensions of social networks have stronger protective effects than the composition dimension. CONCLUSIONS: U.S. Chinese older immigrants with different levels of social network characteristics have different risks of depression, suggesting targeted subpopulation assessments to facilitate the delivery of more appropriate and effective treatment to those most in need. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Health-care professionals and social service agencies are suggested to develop intervention programs to promote mental health through increasing strong ties and improving the quality of social networks for U.S. Chinese older immigrants.

The present study examined the influence of acculturation level and family relationships (i.e., positive family support and negative family strain) on quality of life (QOL), using the data from the...

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the potential influence of coping resources at individual (sense of mastery), family (spousal support, family support, children’s filial piety), and community level (community cohesion) on the mental health (depression and anxiety) of Chinese older adults in the United States. METHODS: The data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, the largest population-based study of Chinese elderly in the United States (N= 3,159). Stepwise negative binomial regressions were performed to predict depression and anxiety, respectively, by entering individual, family, and community coping resources separately and jointly while controlling for socio-demographic and acculturation-related variables. RESULTS: Stronger sense of mastery and greater perception of children’s filial piety were associated with fewer depressive symptoms and lower level of anxiety. Whereas spousal support was not associated with any mental health outomes, family support was actually assciated with more depressive symptoms and greater anxiety. Having stronger community cohesion was associated with fewer depressive symptoms but greater anxiety while controling for other coping resources. CONCLUSION: Older immigrants’ own sense of control in their life and perception that children adhering to traditional family norms were two important protective factors for their mental health. In contrast, depending on family members for support could compromise their well-being. Community cohesion seems to be a double-edged sword for Chinese older immigrants’ mental health. Future studies shall further disentangle the relationships among sense of mastery, reliance on family and ethnic enclaves for support, and older immigrants’ well-being.

This article aims to advance the global issue of elder abuse through exploring how the current body of elder abuse literature can collectively pave the way for present and future directions for research, practice, and policy.

Background: Religiosity influences health and well-being. We assessed religiosity among U.S. Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the PINE study based on 3,159 community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults aged 60+ in the greater Chicago area. Two items retrieved from Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) were used to assess the frequency of participating in religious activities, and a separate item was used to assess the importance of religion. Results: Overall, 35.4% of participants perceived religion to be important. This study correlated the higher frequency of participation in religious observances with older age groups of the sample, being female, having a higher income, being unmarried, longer duration of residency in the United States, and not having been born in Mainland China. Higher frequency of participating in organized religious services was correlated with better quality of life. Conclusions: Religion is important among U.S Chinese older adults. Future longitudinal research i...

Elder mistreatment (EM) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to examine the association between depressive symptoms and EM in a U.S. Chinese population. A community-based participatory research approach was implemented to partner with the Chicago Chinatown population. Self-reported EM was assessed using a modified Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale instrument. Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the short form Geriatric Depression Scale. Exact logistic regression was used to assess these associations. Of the 78 participants, mean age was 74.8 (SD = 7.8) years and 52.6% were women. EM was reported in 20.5% of participants. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, higher numbers of depressive symptoms were independently associated with increased risk of EM (Exact OR, 1.99, 95% CI [1.23, 3.41]). Interaction terms analyses suggest that higher educational levels might buffer the risk of EM associated with depressive symptoms. Longitudinal s...

This study compared the urban and rural differences in the sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health-related, and psychosocial factors associated with elder mistreatment (EM) in a Chinese population. Cross-sectional study of 269 urban and 135 rural participants aged 60 years or greater was performed. For urban participants, those with EM were more likely to be younger, have lower levels of education and income, and have lower levels of psychosocial well-being. For rural participants, those with EM were more likely to be older, have lower levels of education, have higher numbers of medical conditions and lower levels of health status, and have lower levels of psychosocial well-being. Among those with EM, rural participants were more likely to be women, have lower levels of education and income, have lower levels of health status and quality of life, have worse change in recent health, and have lower levels of psychosocial well-being. Both higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of social support were associated with increased risk of EM. Future intervention studies are needed to examine the effect of improving psychosocial well-being on the risk of EM among Chinese populations.

Elder self-neglect is an important public health issue; however, its association with psychological, health, and social factors remains unclear. This study aimed to (1) examine the associations between self-neglect severity and psychological, health, and social factors (2) examine the racial/ethnic differences in these associations.We conducted a biracial population-based study in a geographically defined community in Chicago: Chicago Health Aging Project. We identified 1094 persons who had been identified by social services agency as suspected elder self-neglect from 1993 to 2005. Self-neglect severity was assessed on a 0-45 scale. The psychological, health, and social factors were assessed using Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CESD), poor mental health, health status, unhealthy days, poor physical health, days away from usual activities, social network, and social engagement. Linear regression was used to assess associations between self-neglect and psychological, health, and social factors. Interaction terms (Self-neglect x Race) were used to assess the black (non-Hispanic black) and white (non-Hispanic white) differences in these associations.There were significant associations between self-neglect severity with health and social factors. After adjusting for confounders, greater self-neglect severity was associated with lower health status (PE = 0.001, p = 0.002), higher unhealthy days (PE = 0.139, p0.001), poor physical health (PE = 0.141, p0.001), and more days away from usual activities (PE = 0.120, p = 0.030). Interaction term (Self-Neglect x Race) indicates black compared with white older adults, had more days away from usual activities (PE = 0.321, p = 0.045) and lower social engagement (PE = -0.04, p = 0.003).Greater self-neglect severity is associated with lower levels of health and social wellbeing. These associations may be stronger for black than white older adults.