Self-Rated Health Among Older Chinese Americans: The Roles of Acculturation and Family Cohesion. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kaipeng; Zhang, Anao; Sun, Fei; Hu, Rita X.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied gerontology. Volume 40:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 394
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: self-rated health -- acculturation -- family cohesion -- Chinese Americans -- older adults; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 362.6
• DOI: 10.1177/0733464819898316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0733-4648

Abstract

Background: Previous research has established the influence of acculturation and family cohesion on Chinese Americans' mental health and health behavior; however, the influence of acculturation and family cohesion on self-rated health among this population has not been examined. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between family cohesion, acculturation, and self-rated health among older Chinese Americans.Method: Data came from structured interviews with 385 Chinese Americans aged 55 and older living in a large metropolitan area in Southwest. We used logistic regression to examine the association between acculturation, family cohesion, and self-rated health.Results: Acculturation was positively associated with self-rated health only among those with medium (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27, p < .05) and high (OR = 1.93, p < .05) family cohesion, but not among those with low family cohesion.Discussion: Findings highlight the significance of involving family members and strengthening family support in the acculturation and supportive services provided to older Chinese Americans.