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Self-image and intergenerational relationships as correlates of life satisfaction in Chinese older adults: will gender make a difference?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2017

XUE BAI ,
YU GUO  and
YUAN YUAN FU
XUE BAI*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
YU GUO*
Affiliation:
School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, China.
YUAN YUAN FU
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
*
Address for correspondence: Xue Bai, GH338, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Yu Guo, Room 227, Qiushi Building, Renmin University, 59 Zhongshancun Street, Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Address for correspondence: Xue Bai, GH338, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Yu Guo, Room 227, Qiushi Building, Renmin University, 59 Zhongshancun Street, Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

Promoting life satisfaction in later life has long been both a policy and practice challenge. This study examined the association between older adults' self-image and life satisfaction, and that between their intergenerational relationships and life satisfaction. Given that sources of wellbeing for older men and women may vary due to socially constructed realities in early life, gender differences were also investigated in the correlates of life satisfaction. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in 2014 with a sample of 1,099 older adults aged 60 years and over from four cities in China. Findings of this study showed that older adults’ self-image and intergenerational relationships were significantly associated with their life satisfaction after controlling for certain socio-demographic characteristics, and health and self-care ability. The correlates of life satisfaction were shown to differ between older men and women. Programmes and Services should be developed for older adults to explore and identify positive aspects of themselves, to improve their relationships with their adult children, and to foster a more positive image of ageing in wider society. In addition, service providers should take gender differences in correlates of life satisfaction into account in service and intervention programme development.

Keywords

Chinese older adultsgender differencesintergenerational relationshiplife satisfactionself-image
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 38 , Issue 7 , July 2018 , pp. 1502 - 1519
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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