Challenges and resilience related to aging in the United States among older Chinese immigrants

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study sought to identify challenges and protective factors for resilience related to the process of aging among older Chinese immigrants in the United States.

Methods: This study used qualitative methods and involved 24 in-depth interviews with Chinese immigrants aged 65 or older in Los Angeles. Content analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data.

Results: Three major themes emerged regarding challenges older Chinese immigrants encountered in aging in the United States: language barriers, loneliness and social isolation, and insufficient use of social services. Four themes were identified regarding resilience protective factors: acceptance and optimism; independence and autonomy; informal social support; and use of the formal social welfare system.

Conclusion: This study provides several implications for future human services to build relational and societal resilience and enhance Chinese older immigrants’ personal resilience. Cultural strengths should be taken into consideration by practitioners and policy makers.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging in place
• stress and coping
• resilience
• Chinese
• culture

Acknowledgments

The thoughtful contributions of our interview participants are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the University of Southern California Undergraduate Research Associates Program [grant number URAP2013].