Exploring Family Support for Older Chinese Singaporean Women in a Confucian Society

Leanne Chang, Iccha Basnyat

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigated the functions of family support in older Chinese Singaporean women’s daily health management in a Confucian cultural context, wherein family solidarity and women’s caregiving responsibilities are emphasized. Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with ethnic Chinese women above the age of 60 in Singapore. Our thematic analysis showed that older women played dual roles as support providers and recipients in the family. Their caregiver identity and intent to preserve tradition resulted in a downward transmission of informational and physical support and their hesitance to accept resources provided by younger family members. The asymmetrical flow of family support generated mixed impacts on the women’s daily health management. In their transition between tradition and modernity, older women fulfilled their family responsibilities but did not require their children to do so. Our findings suggested an integration of familial and institutional resources to meet older women’s support needs and help them enhance their health behavior.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)603-611
Number of pages9
JournalHealth Communication
Volume32
Issue number5
Early online date22 Jun 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2017

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