Forums | HES 健康与环境科学

15 September 2023, 1:39 PM

Speaker: Jining Li (online talk)

Date: 2023-09-20

Time: 14:00-14:30 pm

Room: ES354

Online link:

https://meeting.tencent.com/dm/cHLE02oBtSPP

Meeting ID: 664-4757-0489

Title: Perception, opportunities and barriers of social engagement among the Chinese elderly, a qualitative study

Abstract:

Background Healthy aging needs have increased since China is entering into an aging society. Thus, it is important to explore the protective factors for healthy aging among the elderly in China. There is much quantitative research that examines how social engagement improves healthy aging and well-being. This qualitative study contributes to the research gap by exploring the lived experience of the Chinese community dwelling elderly among the perceptions, opportunities, and barriers of social engagement.

Methods A qualitative approach was adopted. Interviews were conducted with 30 elderly living in urban Taiyuan, China. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically by using NVivo, thematic analysis followed the six-phase approach. Constant comparison method was applied to enrich the depth and rigor of our analysis.

Results Four major themes were identified: 1) The perception of social engagement; 2) ‘Bad’ social engagement; 3) Opportunities for social engagement; and 4) Barriers to social engagement. Our study identified several forms of social engagement, the participants perceived that social engagement encompasses a multitude of diverse forms, offering individuals the flexibility to select a preferred mode of participation. The analysis yielded six noteworthy findings of the opportunities towards social engagement, namely: financial security, free time, health awareness, availability of organized recreational activities, community amenities, and urban infrastructure. Numerous barriers to social engagement among the Chinese elderly were also identified in this study: including physical limitations, preexisting health conditions, shrinking social networks, formal and informal restrictions and time constraints emerged as significant hindrances to their participation in social activities.

Conclusion Our findings provide insights into the lived experience towards social engagement among the elderly, showing the potential of how social engagement enhance elderly’s physical and mental well-being, also mitigate their negative psychological states. The findings from this study can help to inform the interventions and policies relevant to social engagement improves healthy aging.