Fostering Positive Images of Ageing in China:

A case study in Wuhan

Presentation to theInternational Conference Forum on

Ageing in Place and Age Friendly CitiesJapan, Oct. 10-11, 2009.

Significance of Positive Images of Ageing to Successful Ageing

PositiveImages of Ageing

Physical Health

Psychological Health

Social Functioning Health

Outline

• Introduction

• Theoretical Elaboration

• Methods

• Results

• Conclusion

Significance of Achieving Successful Ageing

Avoidance of disease and disability

Maintenance of

sound mental status

Engagement in social interaction

and productive activities

1.Lower burden for thegovernment and

sandwiched generation

2. Effective exploitation of potential human resources

3. Better intergenerational Relationship

…

(Rowe & Kahn, 1997)

Modernization and Population Ageing in China

• Modernization in China55th in the realization degree of first modernization and 51st for

the second(2004)urban-rural binary system “compressed mode” reversed sequence of economic development and population

ageing

• Population Ageing158 million people aged 60 or above12% of the total population (China Statistical Bureau, 2007)

Images of Ageing

Successful Ageing

Modernization Image of Ageing

Successful Ageing

Modernization

Modernization Theory

Perspective Author & Date Main findings and viewpoints

Cross-Cultural Simons (1945)

Based on a study of seventy-one societies, he concluded that due to the concept of seniority right, elders usually occupy positions of power and favor in relatively stable agricultural societies whilst the advantaged status will be gradually lost due to the disorganization of traditional society.

Sociological

Cottrell (1960)He maintained that, as the keeper of experience and knowledge, in the economic, political, religious, and social realms of life, it was the right of elderly people to make decisions.

Fischer (1978)He described the cultural shift from respect to condescension. In the modernized world, he maintained, there emerged new language by which contempt for the old was expressed and some negative age images came out.

Cross-Cultural & Sociological

Cowgill

(1972,1974.1986)

He summarized that modernization caused changesin the positions that older people occupy in the society and the esteem afforded to them both individually and as members of a social category. The direction of change is usually assumed to be for the worse.”

Family-Based

Perspective

Smith (1984)

Isabella (2004)

Cha (2004)

Smith considered modernization as the main momentum in the shift in family structures in America.

Isabella further suggested that modernization theory provided the main platform for the debate on changes in family support for elders in both industrialized and developing worlds.

Based on his study on public policy on ageing in Korea, Cha maintained that the problem of elderly people has become a social issue in that the process of modernization changed the traditional family system. The significant lag of development of public ageing policy is highlighted.

Xu and Ji(1999)

Based on the 1987 Aged Population Over 60 Years Sampling Survey, they found that there are significant disparities between rural and urban elderly in terms of the dimensions of economic support, medical care, daily assistance and perceptions of difficulties in receiving support.

Research Questions

• How will modernization with Chinese characteristics affect elderly people’s images of ageing?

• What will be elderly people’s thoughts and wishes for desirable policies to nurture positive images of ageing?

• Will there be distinct pictures in urban and rural areas?

Settings and Participants• Wuhan

Demographic feature: 8 million residents; 1.15million aged 60 and above (13.77%) Modernization level: GDP per capita 2370 USD; urbanization level reached 60%; popularization of personal computer was 30.5%

• SamplingPurposive sampling (Wu Chang; Hong Shan; Jiang Han; Xin Zhou and Huang Pi )Inclusion criteria: aged 60 years or above; Chinese speaking; physically living in Wuhanapproached (40); 10 declined; response rate (75%)

Data Collection

• Semi-structured in-depth interview

• Consent to record was confirmed

• Confidential issue was guaranteed

• At home .vs. a small room

• Half an hour each

Characteristics of the Participants

Gender Age Educational level Marital No. of

Status children

No.1 Li female 79 primary school widowed 3

No.2 Shi female 60 no married 2

No.3 Chen male 64 master degree married 1

No.4 Yang male 64 primary school widowed 4

No.5 Tao female 86 no widowed 5

No.6 Tian female 74 primary school married 5

No.7 Tian male 66 college married 1

No.8 Luo male 75 college married 2

No.9 Chen male 72 college married 2

No.10 Wang male 60 secondary school married 1

No.11 He male 72 secondary school married 2

No.12 Xia female 61 primary school married 1

No.13 Wu female 66 college married 2

No.14 Deng female 62 primary school married 3

No.15 Wen male 62 secondary school married 2

No.16 Yang male 65 secondary school divorced 2

No.17 Jiang female 62 no married 2

No.18 Zhou male 76 primary school married 5

No.19 Chen female 92 no widowed 3

No.20 Chen female 61 primary school married 3

No.21 Zhou male 72 secondary school married 4

No.22 Sun female 66 primary school married 4

No.23 Hu female 72 no married 6

No.24 Yue female 80 no widowed 4

No.25 Wang male 68 primary school married 4

No.26 Wang male 65 secondary school married 3

No.27 Xiong female 85 no widowed 7

No.28 Zhou male 63 secondary school married 2

No.29 Xiao female 64 no married 3

No.30 Zhang female 67 no married 6

Narratives of Feelings about the Impact of Modernization on Images of Ageing

(I)• Technological development and the sense of lagging behind (18 out of 30)

“Actually, technological development is quite an important aspect inthe process of modernization. For elderly people like us, we aresometimes aware of it, however, you know, with a low educationlevel, we cannot keep pace with it. Personally, I even don’t knowhow to use the computer. My grandson always says that if onecannot use the computer, you can treat him as an illiterate.” No. 4Yang (male, 64)

“Due to the rapid development of informationtechnology, I always feel being forced to keepup with the rapid pace. For example, duringholidays, I am always busy with learning whatis new that comes with modernization. Youknow, as a professor, I have to admit thatyounger people are smarter than me indealing with MP3, or whatever. Once astudent brought me an electronic photoalbum from the United States of America, Istill need time to learn how to use it.”No. 3 Chen(male, 64).

• Work-role loss and sense of uselessness (6 out of 30)

“I really think retirement is a life-turning event. I retired at 60 and I was then in good health. But I have nothing to do after retirement, except some household chores, and friends become fewer and fewer. I felt at the time that I was economically unproductive and even useless.” No. 8 Luo (male, 75)

• Diminishing traditions and the feeling of being no longer respected (15 out of 30)

“I am supported by my husband, if not so, I could not imagine howmy daughter-in-law would treat me…. The tradition of filial pietyhas changed as the country modernizes. I do feel we elderlypeople are no longer respected.” No. 18 Jiang (female, 62)

“I have raised five sons and two daughters, but it turns out that,now, no one would like to financially support me.” No. 28 Xiong(female, 85)

“Younger generation does not respect us as we did to our parentsin the past. I understand that it is not because they don’t want to,but time has changed and all young people want to live bythemselves when they can afford it. My children also do not wantto live with us, though they always make an effort to visit us. Theymanage only to make ends meet and we can’t expect them to giveus support. I have to admit that I feel rather neglected by them attimes.” No. 22 Zhou (male, 72)

• Economic development and more convenient later life (20 out of 30)

“As the economy develops, our living standard hasimproved. Thanks to the old age pension and medicalinsurance schemes, we elderly people no longer needto live in extreme poverty. ”No. 17 Yang(male, 65)

“Take me as an example. For most of the time I amalone at home, but I never feel lonely. In the morning, Iwatch TV for a while, turn on the radio and listen tomusic afterward. I can easily locate my friends on theinternet or talk to them by microphone. Life is differentin many ways before and after modernization. We areliving in an information society and that brings us hope.Otherwise, our life would be very dull after retirement,like being confined in a prison.” No. 7 Tian (male, 66)

• Favorable policies and more secured later life

“With the development of the society with favorable policies has guaranteed us with happy life. You know, when we are sick, the government will share our medical expense. If not, I may have already been dead.”

Narratives of Thoughts and WishesSurrounding Policy Responses

• Programs launched by the state“Policies such as old age pension scheme and medicalinsurance are fundamental but beneficial.” No. 1 Li(female, 79)

“We are covered in the medical insurance system, 95%of the expense on medical can be claimed back. Thismakes me feel rewarded and respected.” No. 6 Yang(male, 65)“Government has launched a policy to render uselderly cards which entitles us to take bus, toparticipate in certain activities free of charge and thismakes us feel respected.”No. 6 Yang (male, 65)

• Services offered in the community

“the opening of activity centers incommunity”

“formal and informal education targeting theyouth for respecting the old”

“establishment of institutions for the elderly”

• Support of the former Work Units

“San Dao Street Primary School, where I worked beforeretirement, often encourages young teachers to learn fromthe older ones and show their respect for the elderlyteachers. Young teachers may be more adaptive to moderntools and new teaching methods, elderly teachers have theirown strength in identifying the specific characteristics of thechildren as different individuals, which will help children fullydevelop themselves.” No. 5 Tao (female, 86)

“The concern from former work units means a lot for retiredelderly people. When old colleagues gather together either fora walk or a trip, we will feel extremely proud and satisfied.”No. 3 Chen (male, 64)

• Wishes:

more opportunities for volunteering;

more educational opportunities and workshops;

foster the concept of respecting the old;

more policy concern for rural areas.

Urban-Rural Comparison

more an opportunity .vs. more a threatening event positive image .vs. negative image satisfaction .vs. complaint

“Modernization itself is a sign of positive evolvement of humansociety. However, for elderly who have no resources in ruralarea, it will mean more damage.”

“I don’t want to say more about it. Even the most basicminimum security has not been properly implemented, howcan I talk about others?” No. 20 Chen (female, 61)

“Policies from the government at the highestlevel are often with good intention, but theyare often distorted when coming down to thelower levels. For instance, the minimum wagepolicy is good in intention, right? But, finally,they benefit those with better living conditionsand resourceful ‘guanxi’ (relation). Those whoreally need it cannot get access to it.” No. 19Chen (female, 92)

Conclusion

Personal Experience

Modernization in Cultural Domain:Diminishing Filial Piety Cutlure

Self-Image

Of

The Elderly

Modernization in Socio-Economic Domain: work-role loss; old age

pension

Modernization in Knowledge Economy:

lag in educational attainment; limited access to digital products

Self-Imaging Forces Modernization Events Outcome