Social Capital and Preferences for Aging in Place Among Older Adults Living in Rural Northeast China

Abstract

The present study examines the association between cognitive social capital and structural social capital and aging-in-place among older adults living in rural Northeastern Chinese communities. Data were derived from a survey conducted in Dongliao County, Jilin Province, China, in late 2019. A quota sampling approach was used to recruit 458 respondents aged 60 years and older. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the proposed model. The results show that the measurement models of cognitive social capital and structural social capital were established in rural Chinese communities. Structural social capital was found to have a higher effect on aging in place than cognitive social capital (structural social capital: β = 0.241, p < 0.001; cognitive social capital: β = 0.118, p < 0.05). The findings highlight the crucial role both cognitive and structural social capital play in affecting the preference for aging in place among older rural Chinese adults. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

Neighborhood Environment and Mental Well-Being Among Chinese Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Social Capital

“…A total score ranges from 0 to 7, and a higher score indicates a greater number of organizational memberships. The respondents were also asked whether they participated in volunteering activities (0 = No, 1 = Yes) and whether they participated in social activities/services in the past 3 months (0 = No, 1 = Yes) ( Lu et al, 2020 ). Supplementary Table 1 documents each measurement to construct cognitive and structural SC in detail.…”

Perspectives on the popularization of smart senior care to meet the demands of older adults living alone in communities of Southwest China: A qualitative study

“…However, a survey in China noted that there was a low percentage of fulfilled needs, with services provided by communities being insufficient (14), among which regular visits by professionals, referrals, and first-aid, physical examination, and education were the most sought after needs in medical demand (15). Moreover, it has been indicated that, in the United States of America, Singapore, and China, senior citizens were more willing to take care of themselves at home or in the community, bringing a better quality of life, a sense of belonging, and security, thereby achieving social value (16)(17)(18).…”