The sociocultural relationships of older immigrant Punjabi women living in Nova Scotia: Implications for well-being

Abstract

With the increase of South Asian immigrants in Canada, the relationship between older immigrant Punjabi women's sociocultural relationships and their mental health and well-being needs to be understood. Guided by the social determinants of health and intersectional feminist frameworks, five Punjabi women living in Nova Scotia, Canada were interviewed. Three themes were identified: (a) having freedom yet being dependent on families, (b) conflating having a happy family with having good mental health, and (c) needing ways to connect with other older Punjabi women. These findings articulate how Punjabi relationships affect women's views on mental health and well-being. KEYWORDSAging women; mental health and well-being; South AsianThe Atlantic Immigrant Pilot Project aims to increase immigration levels in Nova Scotia and its nearby provinces (Government of Canada, 2019) by attracting first-generation immigrants with relevant work experience to the region. Many younger first-generation immigrants also sponsor their aging parents to join them (Koehn et al., 2013), in line with cultural values emphasizing close familial relationships and responsibilities (Chadda & Deb, 2013;Lamb, 2009). Understanding how immigration, as a social determinant of health, affects the mental health and well-being of older immigrant women is timely (Creatore et al., 2012), given the increase of older immigrants in Nova Scotia. A greater understanding of their experiences and concerns is needed to attract newcomers and retain them (Government of Canada, 2019), as well as help ensure that immigrants enjoy living in the province and feel supported.Historically, the majority of Canadian immigrants came from Europe, but in recent years, most newcomers are from Asia (Peng & Cassie, 2015; Statistics Canada, 2016). South Asia represents a broad range of ethnicities including individuals from the Indian state of Punjab, yet little research exists about their relationship experiences. Moreover, little is known about older Punjabi women's experiences. This qualitative study thus explores the sociocultural relationships of older Punjabi women living in Nova Scotia. Our aim is to understand how older Punjabi women's relationships influence their perceptions of mental health and well-being. Family life in IndiaIndia is generally recognized as a collectivistic culture in which the maintenance of family relationships and community relationships is highly valued, and social cohesion and interdependence are promoted (Chadda & Deb, 2013;Lamb, 2009). Traditionally, many people live in joint family structures in which three or more generations live together in a home. Other relatives such as aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews may also be present. Living in multigenerational homes is preferred for many Indians. Individuals support each other by taking care of widows, never-married adults, children and adults with disabilities, and older family members. Additionally, the household structure of many CONTACT Sandeep Dhillon

Exploring Social Determinants of Mental Health of Older Unforced Migrants: A Systematic Review

“…Lifestyle seekers migrate to destinations offering improved quality of life through factors such as better weather ( Mullins & Tucker, 1992 ), lower cost of living ( Karacan, 2020 ), and better access to facilities ( Sah et al, 2018 ). The primary motivation for family reunification is to be close to adult children ( Caidi et al, 2020 ; Chiu & Ho, 2020 ; Dhillon & Humble, 2020 ; Girgis, 2020 ; Park & Kim, 2013 ; Serafica & Thomas Reyes, 2019 ; Stewart et al, 2011 ; Treas, 2008 ), highlighting the importance of social relationships and connections in the migration decision-making process. Family reunification studies either focused on temporary migration and the transnational lifestyle of migrants ( Chiu & Ho, 2020 ) or a combination both of permanent and temporary migration ( Hamilton et al, 2021 ; Treas & Mazumdar, 2002 ).…”

What Quality-of-Life Dimensions Are Most Important to Older Adults from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds Receiving Aged Care Services? An Exploratory Study

“…This research aligns with the small number of other studies conducted with migrant populations in Australia and internationally. Other studies have highlighted the importance of independence [ 18 , 19 ] and social connections [ 20 , 21 ] to older adults from CALD backgrounds. The quality-of-life dimension of having a meaningful role identified in a previous study [ 18 ] was similar to the dimension of ‘purpose and meaning’ identified in the current study.…”

“…However, small samples sizes for research with non-English speaking older adults is common given the challenge of recruiting and the costs of hiring interpreters. The studies conducted in other English-speaking nations with Asian older adults had interview sample sizes of between 5 and 30 [ 18 , 20 ], and a previous survey study had a sample size of 79 [ 21 ]. Additionally, as previously mentioned COVID-19 created significant barriers to gaining support for recruitment at a time when aged care providers had many additional demands placed on them.…”

“…Another study of older Chinese adults in New Zealand identified the importance of maintaining independence and having strong family support [ 19 ]. Several studies have highlighted the importance of social connections with their ethnic community as important to older CALD adults, such as studies with older Punjabi women and older Korean adults in Canada [ 20 , 21 ]. Jo and colleagues [ 21 ] identified that having a sense of belonging and feeling valued were important to older Korean adults.…”

The how, when, and where of women’s social relationships later in life

“…Rather surprisingly, these friendships formed regardless of how actively the women participated in the fitness portion of the program, suggesting that the fitness program context had unintended, albeit equally important, effects on their sense of connection. Exploring the cultural milieu of older women's sense of connection, Dhillon and Humble (2021) examined how five older Punjabi women who had immigrated to Nova Scotia interpreted their social ties. Underscoring the complexity of our closest ties, these women shared the tensions they felt between wanting to be independent but feeling overly reliant on their families, while also highlighting how their family's happiness was integral to their own well-being.…”