THESIS
2017
vii, 122 pages : illustrations ; 30 cm
Abstract
This dissertation includes three essays that examine how social participation and
neighborhood affect the subjective well-being of the elderly population in Chinese societies.
The first essay examines how socioeconomic development influences the relative importance
of living with children and social participation in enhancing subjective well-being among the
elderly in Hong Kong, urban China, and Taiwan. It reveals that as the family value of society
moves forward on a traditional-modern continuum, the elderly may benefit more
psychologically from social participation and less from living with children. The second essay
investigates the association between neighborhood characteristics and depression among
Hong Kong elderly. It finds that neighborhood elderly centers that encourag...[
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This dissertation includes three essays that examine how social participation and
neighborhood affect the subjective well-being of the elderly population in Chinese societies.
The first essay examines how socioeconomic development influences the relative importance
of living with children and social participation in enhancing subjective well-being among the
elderly in Hong Kong, urban China, and Taiwan. It reveals that as the family value of society
moves forward on a traditional-modern continuum, the elderly may benefit more
psychologically from social participation and less from living with children. The second essay
investigates the association between neighborhood characteristics and depression among
Hong Kong elderly. It finds that neighborhood elderly centers that encourage social
participation and personal interaction play a significant role in reducing depressive symptoms.
The beneficial effect is greater among disadvantaged older populations living in low-socioeconomic-status (SES) neighborhoods. The third essay presents a theoretical framework
for explaining how neighborhood affects depression among the elderly in Shanghai. It finds
that social cohesion is an important mechanism for the neighborhood effect. Older people
living in a less well-off neighborhood interact more frequently with neighbors and then
perceive a higher level of social cohesion. Neighborhood elderly centers could enhance social
cohesion by providing opportunities for social participation. Social cohesion, in turn, leads to
a lower rate of depression.
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