Perceptions, opportunities and barriers of social engagement among the Chinese older adults: a qualitative study.

IF 3.4 2区 医学 Q2 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY
Jining Li, Xinzhao Cai, Marius Wamsiedel
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Understanding and promoting healthy aging are increasingly important as China transitions into an aging society. Our study examines the challenges and opportunities faced by the older adults in urban areas regarding social engagement, potentially informing the development of effective, context-sensitive interventions and policies.

Methods: The study is based on in-depth interviews with 30 participants from a Northern city in Mainland China regarding their daily lives, attitudes towards and subjective experiences of aging, and involvement in social activities. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, with the aim to maximize the diversity of perspectives and experiences. The data was subjected to thematic analysis.

Results: The factors that facilitate social engagement among the older adults in urban China include financial security, available free time, heightened health awareness, access to organized recreational activities, community amenities, and well-developed urban infrastructure. Among the barriers to social engagement for urban Chinese older adults, the study identifies physical limitations, chronic illnesses, shrinking social networks, institutional ageism, and limited digital literacy.

Conclusion: The social engagement of the older adults in urban China reflects and is influenced by the wider socio-economic transformation of the country in the recent decades. Financial security afforded by the pension system has lessened the older adults' need to engage in income-generating activities. Combined with an increase in leisure time, this represents a luxury previously unavailable to earlier generations. However, institutional ageism and low digital literacy are important constraints, particularly for the 'oldest old' and those with limited socio-economic status.

中国老年人社会参与的认知、机会和障碍:一项定性研究。
背景:随着中国进入老龄化社会,理解和促进健康老龄化变得越来越重要。我们的研究考察了城市地区老年人在社会参与方面面临的挑战和机遇,可能为制定有效的、对环境敏感的干预措施和政策提供信息。方法:对30名来自中国大陆北方城市的参与者进行深度访谈,了解他们的日常生活、对衰老的态度和主观体验以及社会活动的参与情况。参与者是通过有目的的抽样选择的,目的是最大限度地提高观点和经验的多样性。对这些数据进行了专题分析。结果:促进中国城市老年人社会参与的因素包括经济保障、空闲时间、健康意识增强、有组织的娱乐活动、社区设施和发达的城市基础设施。在中国城市老年人参与社会活动的障碍中,该研究确定了身体限制、慢性疾病、社交网络萎缩、制度性年龄歧视和数字素养有限。结论:中国城市老年人的社会参与反映了近几十年来中国更广泛的社会经济转型,并受到其影响。养老金制度提供的经济保障减少了老年人从事创收活动的需要。加上休闲时间的增加,这代表了以前几代人无法享受的奢侈品。然而,制度性的年龄歧视和低数字素养是重要的制约因素,特别是对“最老的老人”和社会经济地位有限的人来说。
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来源期刊
BMC Geriatrics
BMC Geriatrics GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY-
CiteScore
5.70
自引率
7.30%
发文量
873
审稿时长
20 weeks
期刊介绍: BMC Geriatrics is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the health and healthcare of older people, including the effects of healthcare systems and policies. The journal also welcomes research focused on the aging process, including cellular, genetic, and physiological processes and cognitive modifications.
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