RESILIENCE AND PERCEIVED ORAL HEALTH AMONG OLDER CHINESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
2024

Social Support and Oral Health in Older Chinese Americans

Sample size: 377 publication

Author Information

Author(s): Jiang Nan, Zhang Wei, Wu Bei

Primary Institution: Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Hypothesis

Does support from adult children affect perceived oral health among older Chinese Americans?

Conclusion

Greater emotional support from children improves perceived oral health for foreign-born Chinese Americans, while financial support negatively impacts U.S.-born Chinese Americans' perceived oral health.

Supporting Evidence

  • Emotional support from children is linked to better oral health for foreign-born Chinese Americans.
  • Financial support from children is associated with worse oral health for U.S.-born Chinese Americans.
  • Resilience mediates the relationship between social support and perceived oral health.

Takeaway

When older Chinese Americans get help from their kids, it can make their teeth feel better, but sometimes money help can make things worse.

Methodology

Data was analyzed using structural equation models to compare self-rated oral health between foreign-born and U.S.-born Chinese Americans.

Participant Demographics

Chinese American older adults aged 55 or older, both foreign-born and U.S.-born.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.1429

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