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Research Interests: Psychology, Applied Mathematics, Depression, Aging, Quality of life, and 12 moreLife Satisfaction, Humans, Female, Male, Health Status, Aged, Middle Aged, Questionnaires, Public health systems and services research, Reproducibility of Results, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, and Personal Satisfaction
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The present study examined trajectory patterns of self-rated health (SRH) among older rural Chinese adults and gender differences in the relationship between intergenerational relationships and SRH trajectories. Using data from four waves... more
The present study examined trajectory patterns of self-rated health (SRH) among older rural Chinese adults and gender differences in the relationship between intergenerational relationships and SRH trajectories. Using data from four waves of a longitudinal study on the well-being of older adults in Anhui province, a general growth mixture model was estimated to examine the SRH trajectory patterns and antecedents of SRH trajectory class memberships. A two-class model was selected to interpret the SRH trajectory patterns. The two classes were labeled remaining poor and good but declining. Intergenerational relationships were a significant antecedent of SRH trajectory class memberships among men but not women. Gender differences in the cumulative effects of intergenerational relationships on the health of older adults were identified in rural China. Policy implications regarding how to help rural families support their elderly members are discussed.
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Objective: The current study aims to examine the factorial structure and psychometric properties of a brief version of the Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS), a 14-item assessment tool of reminiscence functions, with Chinese older... more
Objective: The current study aims to examine the factorial structure and psychometric properties of a brief version of the Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS), a 14-item assessment tool of reminiscence functions, with Chinese older adults.Method: The scale, covering four reminiscence functions (boredom reduction, bitterness revival, problem solving, and identity) was translated from English into Chinese and administered to older adults (N = 675). Confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to examine its factorial structure, and its psychometric properties and criterion validity were examined.Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supports a second-order model comprising one second-order factor and four first-order factors of RFS. The Cronbach's alpha of the subscales ranged from 0.75 to 0.90.Conclusion: The brief RFS contains a second-order factorial structure. Its psychometric properties support it as a sound instrument for measuring reminiscence functions among Chinese older adults.
Research Interests: Assessment, Psychometrics, Depression, Aging, Hong Kong, and 7 moreEpisodic Memory, Humans, Female, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, and Reminiscence
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The present study aimed to investigate the reciprocal relationship between caregiver burden and care recipient dependence in activities of daily living (ADLs) from the perspective of frail older adults and their family caregivers in... more
The present study aimed to investigate the reciprocal relationship between caregiver burden and care recipient dependence in activities of daily living (ADLs) from the perspective of frail older adults and their family caregivers in China. Data were derived from a sample of 469 older adult-caregiver dyads that participated in both the 2010 and 2013 waves of the panel study Family Caregivers for the Frail and Very Elderly: Well-Being and Needs in Shanghai. A two-wave cross-lag analysis was used to examine the proposed model. ADL dependence in 2010 was a significant predictor of caregiver burden in 2013. Furthermore, caregiver burden in 2010 was a significant predictor of ADL dependence in 2013. This finding confirms the dyadic model of caregiver burden and care recipient well-being. Implications for interventions and policy to help frail older adults and their family caregivers are discussed.
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This study examined the moderator role of intergenerational family capital on the relationship between community social capital and life satisfaction of older Chinese adults. The data were derived from a quota sampling of 372 older adults... more
This study examined the moderator role of intergenerational family capital on the relationship between community social capital and life satisfaction of older Chinese adults. The data were derived from a quota sampling of 372 older adults aged 60 and above, who were interviewed at four districts in Hong Kong in 2011. Multiple group analysis was employed to examine the proposed model. For the low family capital group, community social capital was found to be a significant predictor of life satisfaction, even when the well-known covariates were controlled. However, the association between community social capital and life satisfaction was statistically non-significant among the high family capital group. The findings highlighted the interplay between community social capital and intergenerational family capital, which supported community social capital replacement theory in understanding the mechanism linking social capital to life satisfaction in older age in a Chinese context. Commu...
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Depressive symptoms are common in older people; most previous research on elderly depression focused on individual-level characteristics or neighborhood socioeconomic status. Modifiable neighborhood characteristics of older people... more
Depressive symptoms are common in older people; most previous research on elderly depression focused on individual-level characteristics or neighborhood socioeconomic status. Modifiable neighborhood characteristics of older people dwelling in low-income communities are under-studied. This study aims to identify potentially modifiable social and physical neighborhood characteristics that influence depressive symptoms independent of individual-level characteristics among older Chinese. Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in four low-income public rental housing estates in Hong Kong in 2012. We interviewed a total of 400 elderly residents. The structured questionnaire covered demographics, activities of daily living, recent fall history, neighborhood support networks, and perceived proximity by walk to community facilities. Multiple regression was used to test whether inclusion of neighborhood factors in addition to individual characteristics increases model fit in explaining depressive symptoms in elders with low socioeconomic status. At individual level, activities of daily living and income significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Receiving support from friends or neighbors is associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, participants who received organizational support had a 1.17 points of increase on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). At-ease walkable proximity to medical facilities was positively associated with a better GDS score. Neighborhood support networks and perceived proximity by walk to community facilities contribute significantly to depressive symptoms among low-income elders. Programs and policies that facilitate neighborhood support and commuting or promote facility accessibility may help ameliorate depressive symptoms common among low-income elders.
This study examined the effectiveness of a translated version of Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II in Hong Kong's service delivery context. The localized intervention was adapted from REACH II with 12... more
This study examined the effectiveness of a translated version of Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II in Hong Kong's service delivery context. The localized intervention was adapted from REACH II with 12 individual-based sessions, which addressed multiple domains including disease education, safety, caregiver (CG) well-being, and care recipients' problem behavior. Two-hundred and one dementia family dyads completed the intervention. The efficacy of the intervention was demonstrated by the significant improvement in the perception of positive aspects of caregiving, reduction in depressive symptoms, subjective burden, bother and caregiving risks among CGs, and abatement in behavioral problems among care recipients. Treatment implementation was reflected from the high rate of adoption of each intervention component by interventionists and satisfactory reception from CGs. Promises in reach and adoption were demonstrated by the participation of 85 i...
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This study validates the psychometric properties of the PAC scale among Hong Kong Chinese informal dementia caregivers. Three hundred and seventy-four caregivers responded to questionnaires including the Chinese version of the PAC scale,... more
This study validates the psychometric properties of the PAC scale among Hong Kong Chinese informal dementia caregivers. Three hundred and seventy-four caregivers responded to questionnaires including the Chinese version of the PAC scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), occurrence of problem behaviors, caregiver bother, caregiver confidence, and self-rated health (SRH). Translation and back translation were conducted in translating the PAC scale. Results of an exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) suggest two components in the 11-item Chinese PAC (C-PAC) scale, namely enriching life and affirming self. C-PAC demonstrates satisfactory reliability. Criteria-related validity of C-PAC is suggested by significant correlations with CES-D, SRH, occurrence of problem behaviors, caregiver bother, and caregiver confidence. Our results support the psychometric properties of C-PAC among Hong Kong Chinese caregivers. This brief mea...
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Research Interests: Psychology, Demography, Adolescent, Hong Kong, Humans, and 6 moreChild, Alcoholism, Female, Alcohol Drinking, Male, and Adult
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Professional social work is a recent development in China. This article reports the results of a survey of social work students (n = 1331) in Beijing and Shanghai concerning their career preferences, the work they intend to be doing in... more
Professional social work is a recent development in China. This article reports the results of a survey of social work students (n = 1331) in Beijing and Shanghai concerning their career preferences, the work they intend to be doing in five years time and their views about the training that they were receiving. The sample included students from sub-degree, Bachelor and Master's
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This study explores the relationship between the life satisfaction of older adults and the social support from grandchildren in Hong Kong. Two hundred and fifteen older people (from the ages of 64 to 101, mean age 79.3), whose youngest... more
This study explores the relationship between the life satisfaction of older adults and the social support from grandchildren in Hong Kong. Two hundred and fifteen older people (from the ages of 64 to 101, mean age 79.3), whose youngest grandchild was aged 12 or older, were recruited from elderly service agencies to participate in the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained interviewers using a standardized questionnaire, which included the Life Satisfaction Scale for Chinese, the Lubben Social Network Scale, the Chinese Tradition Scale, grandchildren social support measures, self-rated health, self-rated financial adequacy, and demographic variables. Hierarchical regression showed that the life satisfaction of older adults benefitted significantly from the social support from grandchildren (R 2 change = .05, F change = 7.15, p < .001); while controlling demographic characteristics, general social support, attitude towards Chinese tradition, self-rated health, and self-rated financial adequacy. The total explained variance was 51%. Emotional support and appraisal support from grandchildren were identified as significant contributing factors. The policy and practice implications for active aging policies are discussed in a Chinese context.
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This study tested the relationship between grandparent-grandchild family capital and self-rated health of older rural Chinese adults and the mediating role of the grandparent-parent relationship in terms of grandparent-grandchild family... more
This study tested the relationship between grandparent-grandchild family capital and self-rated health of older rural Chinese adults and the mediating role of the grandparent-parent relationship in terms of grandparent-grandchild family capital and self-rated health. Data were derived from a random sample of 1,027 adults aged 60 and older who were interviewed in the rural Chaohu region in 2009. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct effect of grandparent-grandchild family capital in terms of relations with the first child&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s family on self-rated health among respondents, as well as the mediating effect of the grandparent-parent relationship. The results showed the direct effect of grandparent-grandchild family capital on self-rated health of older rural Chinese adults. The grandparent-parent relationship had a partial mediation effect on the relationship between grandparent-grandchild family capital and self-rated health of respondents. Grandparent-grandchild family capital had a unique direct effect on the self-rated health of older rural Chinese adults, enriching our theoretical understanding of sources of family capital and their impacts in a collectivist cultural context that emphasizes intergenerational interaction and exchange. The findings also highlighted the mediation effects of grandparent-parent relationships on the relationship between grandparent-grandchild family capital and self-rated health of older rural Chinese adults, supporting the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;grandchild-as-linkage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; hypothesis in understanding the social determination of self-rated health in China.
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This paper explores determinants of aging well in 1,502 randomly selected Chinese elders in China. In Chinese traditional culture, elders assume a socially integrated and productive social role within the family. This role parallels the... more
This paper explores determinants of aging well in 1,502 randomly selected Chinese elders in China. In Chinese traditional culture, elders assume a socially integrated and productive social role within the family. This role parallels the active engagement domain of the Rowe and Kahn model of successful aging. However, in their model, health and physical functioning are prominent with less emphasis
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This study evaluates the effect of a care management service (CMS) on falls in older adults. This is a retrospective case-control study with 78 CMS recipients as the case group who received CMS and another 312 community-dwelling frail... more
This study evaluates the effect of a care management service (CMS) on falls in older adults. This is a retrospective case-control study with 78 CMS recipients as the case group who received CMS and another 312 community-dwelling frail elders as the control group.The groups were matched by age, gender, activity of daily living, cognitive impairment, and unsteady gait. Thus they were comparable in characteristics and frailty. Among the 390 participants, 89 older adults (23.0%) had falls in the 90 days prior to the survey. After controlling for the identified risk factors for falls, the odds ratio of CMS was 0.27 (95% confidence interval = 0.110-0.663, p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .01). These findings indicate that CMS recipients have a lower chance for falls compared to their counterparts. The two features of CMS (comprehensive assessment and multidisciplinary actions to reduce fall risks) are discussed.
Research Interests: Psychometrics, China, Risk assessment, Home Care, Multivariate Analysis, and 24 moreActivities of Daily Living, Humans, Female, Male, Confidence intervals, Public health and Aging, Case Management, Risk factors, Aged, Cognitive impairment, Public health systems and services research, Odds ratio, Retrospective Studies, Health surveys, Chi Square Distribution, Risk Factors, Risk Assessment, Older Adult, Case Control Study, Home Care Services, Confidence Interval, Control Group, Case Control Studies, and Activity of Daily Living
... Vivian WQ Lou Department of Social Work & Social Administration, Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Key words: depressive symptoms, Chinese older adults, grand-parent reward, relation ...