TY - JOUR
T1 - UNCOVERING THE HIDDEN TREASURES AND STRENGTHS: CONTRIBUTIONS OF AGING CHINESE IN CANADA
AU - Lai, Daniel W. L.
AU - Andruske, Cynthia Lee
N1 - Funding Information:
The funding for the research reported in this manuscript is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council under the Strategic Theme: Society, Culture and Health of Canadians (Grant No: 828-1999-1032) to the first author. Research assistance provided by Lavinia Suen, Ursula Au, Phyllis Luk, and Grace Leung in data analysis and preparing the manuscript is very much appreciated.
Publisher copyright:
© 2014 International Journals
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Research findings on elderly immigrant populations tend to focus on health and physical challenges and adjustment difficulties after immigration. This results in misunderstandings about contributions, leading society to see aging immigrants as burdensome and needy, rather than as productive and contributing citizens. This study examines the contributions of aging Chinese residing in 7 cities in Canada by conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with 88 Chinese older adults. Five areas of contributions emerged, including helping the family, volunteering and fundraising, caring for oneself, civic engagement, and generativity, with each including sub themes. Overall, these Chinese older adults lead rich and independent lives, as they felt that they contributed to their families, community, and society, as well as enhancing their own lives and those of others.
AB - Research findings on elderly immigrant populations tend to focus on health and physical challenges and adjustment difficulties after immigration. This results in misunderstandings about contributions, leading society to see aging immigrants as burdensome and needy, rather than as productive and contributing citizens. This study examines the contributions of aging Chinese residing in 7 cities in Canada by conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with 88 Chinese older adults. Five areas of contributions emerged, including helping the family, volunteering and fundraising, caring for oneself, civic engagement, and generativity, with each including sub themes. Overall, these Chinese older adults lead rich and independent lives, as they felt that they contributed to their families, community, and society, as well as enhancing their own lives and those of others.
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0020-7667
VL - 40
SP - 71
EP - 96
JO - International Journal of Sociology of the Family
JF - International Journal of Sociology of the Family
IS - 1
ER -