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Are contributory behaviors related to culture? Comparison of the oldest old in the United States and in China

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of culture on contributory behaviors within the context of family, friends, and neighbors among the oldest old in the United States and in China. The study was conducted in suburban areas of Boston in 1996 (n=465), and later in 1999 a replication of the study was conducted by Chinese researchers in urban areas of Shanghai, China (n=539). This study found some common factors such as objective measure of health status, assistance received from others, and group affiliation. However, many differences emerged in the study. The range of contributory behaviors toward friends is quite different between the two samples. Some of the correlates’ impact is also culturally specific, such as sibling support. These differences reflect variation in respondents’ social support as well as social structural differences. Findings from this study suggest that providing more opportunities for elders to participate in groups would facilitate their participation in volunteer activities and improve their overall well-being.

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Author notes

  1. Pei Pei Song (Associate Professor)

    Present address: Shanghai Second Medical University), China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center on Aging and Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9127, 26506, Morgantown, WV

    Bei Wu (assistant professor) & Yuwen Yue

  2. College of Public and Community Service, the University of Massachusetts Boston, USA

    Nina M. Silverstein (associate professor of Gerontology)

  3. Shanghai Research Center on Aging, China

    Li Li Shou (researcher)

  4. Fudan University Medical School, China

    Pei Pei Song (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. Bei Wu
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  2. Yuwen Yue
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  3. Nina M. Silverstein
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  4. Doris Toby Axelrod
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  5. Li Li Shou
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Additional information

Her published articles cover variety of topics such as dementia, caregiving, health services utilization, health behavior, depression, long-term care, minority and immigrant health, and international aging. She has been working as principal investigator or co-investigator on several ongoing projects related to health care service utilization and long-term care.

Yuwen Yue finished her study of nursing science at Tianjin Medical University in 1996, and is now working for her master’s degree in Public Health in West Virginia University. Her research interests include medical sociology and survey methods.

She received her Ph.D. in 1980 from Brandeis University. Since 1984, she has worked closely with the Alzheimer’s Association on projects relating to the Association’s Helpline, its Safe Return Program, respite care, support groups for family caregivers, home safety adaptations, and environmental and behavioral issues in special care units for people with dementia.

Doris Toby Axelrod is currently a consultant at McLean Hospital and serves on the advisory board of Springwell, an Area Agency on Aging in Eastern Massachusetts. She has conducted workshops on telephone and mail surveys involving the 85-plus cohort and has presented five times at the annual meetings of GSA, ASA, and the National Conference of Social Work Researchers.

She received her Master of Sciences degree at the East China Normal University. Her research interests include productive aging, caregiving, and long-term care.

Her research interests are medical sociology and social gerontology.

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Wu, B., Yue, Y., Silverstein, N.M. et al. Are contributory behaviors related to culture? Comparison of the oldest old in the United States and in China. Ageing Int. 30, 296–323 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-005-1017-8

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