China lecture

October 24, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Mānoa Campus, Moore Hall 319 (Tokioka Room)

“Psychological Distress of Older Chinese: Exploring the Roles of Leisure Activities, Social Support, and Subjective Social Status”

by Wei Zhang, UHM Sociology

Date: Wednesday, October 24

Time: 12:00 noon

Place: Moore Hall 319 (Tokioka Room)

Abstract: The goal of this research is to examine if the long neglected correlates such as leisure activities, social support, and subjective social status contribute to variations in psychological distress among older Chinese. Using data collected in one of the most developed areas in China—Suzhou city, Jiangsu province, we find that engaging in collective exercises, living with both spouse and adult children, providing support to other family members as well as perceived availability of social support from others are particularly beneficial for mental health whereas perception of relative deprivation and low life quality is detrimental to mental health of older Chinese. This work is among the first studies that comprehensively examined various important correlates of psychological distress and indicate the unique patterns of distress among the elderly in the most developed area in the contemporary China.

About the Speaker: Wei Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at The University of Hawaii, Manoa. Her research primarily focuses on Medical Sociology, Asian Americans, and Aging in China. Her recent articles appear in Social Science & Medicine, Health & Place, Sociology of Religion, Journal of Gerontology: Social Science, and Journal of Aging and Health.

The Center for Chinese Studies China Research Seminars series is cosponsored by the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The University community and public are cordially invited to attend.


Event Sponsor
Center for Chinese Studies & Confucius Institute at UHM, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Daniel, 956-8891, china@hawaii.edu

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