Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling life satisfaction among the aged: a comparison of Chinese and Americans

  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper reports on a survey conducted among elderly Chinese in Taiwan and Americans in eastern Oregon. The focus is on health status and selected social network characteristics (such as range, density, and percentage of relatives) as they relate to life satisfaction. In addition to examining differences among these and other variables in the two national samples, two hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression analysis. The first hypothesis relates higher values of range and density to greater life satisfaction. The second is a test of the stress-buffering hypothesis. We then examine the data controlling for gender and conclude with a discussion and interpretation of both the national and gender differences yielded by this analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, D. (1969). Analysis of a life satisfaction index, Journal of Gerontology 24: 470–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, R. S. (1984). Network items and the general social survey, Social Networks 6(4): 293–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. & McKay, G. (1984). Social support, stress and the buffering hypothesis: a theoretical analysis. In Handbook of Psychology and Health, Vol. 4. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowgill, D.O. & Holmes, L.D. (1972). Aging and Modernization. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallo, F. (1982). The effects of social support networks on the health of the elderly, Social Work in Health Care 8(2): 65–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter, M.S. (1982). The strength of weak ties: a network theory revisited. In P.V. Marsden & N. Lin (eds), Social Structure and Network Analysis. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutmann, D. (1997). The Human Elder in Nature, Culture, and Society. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermalin, A.I., Ofstedal M.B. & Chang M.-C. (1996). Types of supports for the aged and their providers in Taiwan. In T.H. Hareven (ed.), Aging and Generational Relations: Life-Course and Cross-Cultural Perspectives. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A.V. (1990). Social network assessment: a critical component in case management for functionally impaired older persons, International Journal of Aging and Human Development 30(1): 63–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, J., Fry, C.L., Glascock, A.P., Ikels, C., Dickerson-Putman, J., Harpending, H.C. & Draper, P. (1994). The Aging Experience: Diversity and Commonality Across Cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (1990). Perceived health problems, formal/informal support, and life satisfaction among older adults, Journal of Gerontology 45(5): 193–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, J., Gu, S. & Krause, N. (1992). Social support among the aged in Wuhan, China, Asia-Pacific Population Journal 7: 33–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litwin, H. (1996). Introduction. In H. Litvin (ed.), The Social Networks of Older People: A Cross-National Analysis. Westport CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L. (1995). Life events, social support, and depression among Taiwanese female homemakers, The Journal of Social Psychology 135(2): 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L. & Shih, J.B. (1997). Sources of happiness: a qualitative approach, The Journal of Social Psychology 137(2): 181–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, J.C. (1969). The concept and use of social networks. In J.C. Mitchell (ed.), Social Networks and Urban Situations.: Analysis of Personal Relationships in Central African Towns. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neimeijer, R. (1973). Some applications of the notion of density. In J. Boissevain & J.C. Mitchell (eds), Network Analysis Studies in Human Interaction. The Hague-Paris: Mouton Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten B.L., Havighurst, R.J. & Tobin, S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction, Journal of Gerontology 16: 134–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman P. (1987). Comparative studies. In P. Silverman (ed.), The Elderly as Modern Pioneers. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung, K-T. (1991). Family-centered informal support networks of Korean elderly: the resistance of cultural traditions, Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 6: 431–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, M. (1978). Child training in Chinese society. In A. Wolf (ed.), Studies in Chinese Society. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Philip Silverman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Hecht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Daniel McMillin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silverman, P., Hecht, L. & McMillin, J.D. Modeling life satisfaction among the aged: a comparison of Chinese and Americans. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 15, 289–305 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006793304508

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006793304508

Search

Navigation