The changing meaning of family support among older Chinese and Korean immigrants

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. S4 - 9
• Main Authors: Wong, Sabrina T, Yoo, Grace J, Stewart, Anita L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press for Gerontological Society of America 01.01.2006
• Series: Journals of Gerontology: Series B
• Subjects: Acculturation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; China - ethnology; Family - ethnology; Family - psychology; Female; Humans; Korea - ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Social Support; United States; United States; China; Korea
• ISSN: 1079-5014; 1758-5368
• DOI: 10.1093/geronb/61.1.S4

Our objective in this study was to examine how family social-support expectations have changed among older Chinese and Korean U.S. immigrants. Fifty-two Cantonese- and Korean-speaking immigrants older than 60 years participated in eight focus groups. Transcripts were translated into English. Themes were developed based on a coding structure and compared to past research. Participants discussed changed perspectives of family social support and the need to integrate both American and Chinese or Korean culture, thus becoming bicultural. Three distinct perspectives of family emerged: (1) participants felt they had become peripheral family members, (2) parents were no longer authority figures in families, and (3) participants were more independent. Finally, participants described how factors such as a changed economic environment, living alone, and extending their social network beyond family, promoted a move to biculturalism. These results suggest that the integration of two cultures, or biculturalism, is an indicator of successful adaptation to immigration later in life; older Chinese and Korean immigrants are adjusting to living in the United States and blending multiple cultures simultaneously. Thus, acculturation frameworks implying a linear process may not be theoretically valid as ethnic identity, particularly for those who immigrate to different countries, changes over the life course.