Perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment (EM). Data were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Perceived social support and informal/formal help-seeking intentions and behaviors were measured. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regressions, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. A total of 450 participants reported EM. Mean age of the sample was 72.73 ± 8.03 years old. Perceived social support was associated with an increase in intentions of seeking help from informal sources. Compared with not seeking help, older Chinese-American adults with any EM who perceived social support were more likely to seek help from informal and formal sources. The potential role of social support in increasing help-seeking was highlighted. Culturally tailored interventions that provide social support might promote help-seeking among U.S. Chinese elder immigrants who experienced EM.

Keywords:

• Elder mistreatment
• Help-seeking
• Immigrants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data available statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [YYC], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Rutgers University Asian Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) under National Institute on Aging Grant [P30-AG0059304].