Social exclusion and attitude toward aging of older Chinese living alone in China

Objective: This research examined the effects of social exclusion on attitude toward aging of Chinese older people in China, the country with the largest aging population on earth.
Method: Data were obtained through a structured survey questionnaire, from a stratified proportional random sample of 228 Chinese of 60 years and older who lived alone in Shanghai, China. Attitude toward aging was measured by a self-constructed 5-item scale. Social exclusion was represented by financial status, social support, civic participation, and housing condition.
Results: When controlled for the demographics and health variables in hierarchical multiple regression, social exclusion variables represented by lower financial adequacy, lacking of social support, and poor housing condition were significantly related to a less positive attitude toward aging. The social exclusion variables explained the majority of the variance in the dependent variable. Their effects are far more important than the health variables.
Conclusion: Social exclusion affects attitude toward aging among older Chinese living alone in Shanghai. Social policies and programs should aim at reducing various forms of social exclusion. Providing financial security, facilitating better social support, and improving housing condition are essential methods to enhance the positive attitude of the older adults toward themselves.