Perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment (EM). Data were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Perceived social support and informal/formal help-seeking intentions and behaviors were measured. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regressions, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. A total of 450 participants reported EM. Mean age of the sample was 72.73 ± 8.03 years old. Perceived social support was associated with an increase in intentions of seeking help from informal sources. Compared with not seeking help, older Chinese-American adults with any EM who perceived social support were more likely to seek help from informal and formal sources. The potential role of social support in increasing help-seeking was highlighted. Culturally tailored interventions that provide social support might promote help-seeking among U.S. Chinese elder immigrants who experienced EM.