Intergenerational Solidarity and Mental Health in Chinese American Families
Author Information
Author(s): Li Mengting, Le Qun, Guo Man, Peng Changmin, Tang Fengyan, Da Wendi, Jiang Yanping
Hypothesis
This study examined the association between intergenerational solidarity and mental health among older Chinese Americans and their middle-aged adult children.
Conclusion
The study found that promoting emotional closeness and upward support can improve mental health for both older parents and their adult children.
Supporting Evidence
- In father-child dyads, lower contact frequency perceived by children was linked to older fathers' lower anxiety and loneliness.
- Higher emotional closeness perceived by adult children was associated with lower anxiety in those children.
- In mother-child dyads, higher emotional closeness perceived by older mothers was linked to lower anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
- Higher emotional closeness perceived by adult children was associated with lower loneliness in those children.
Takeaway
When families are close and support each other, both parents and their adult kids feel less anxious and lonely.
Methodology
The study used dyadic analysis with Actor–Partner Interdependence Models to assess mental health and intergenerational solidarity.
Participant Demographics
The study included 216 father-child and 337 mother-child dyads, focusing on older Chinese Americans and their middle-aged adult children.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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