University of Toronto, Department of Sociology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Can J Aging. 2009 Dec;28(4):303-13. doi: 10.1017/S0714980809990146.
ABSTRACTUsing data from the 2001 Census Public Use Microdata Files on Individuals, we examine the role of cultural preferences and economic constraints in elderly Canadians' choice of living arrangements (living with one's children and/or other relatives versus living independently). We find that members of ethnic groups holding familistic cultural values (Italian, Chinese, South Asian, and East Indian) are more likely than their individualistic counterparts (British, German, and Dutch) to live with kin. Economic disadvantage also entails a greater likelihood of living with kin. However, the relative importance of cultural preferences and economic constraints as determinants of living arrangements among the elderly depends on marital status. Among the married, cultural preferences explain a greater proportion of the variation in living arrangements; among the non-married, economic constraints do. This research contributes a more nuanced understanding of living arrangements among the elderly than its predecessors, which neglected the role of marital status.
利用 2001 年人口普查个人公共使用微观数据文件中的数据，我们研究了文化偏好和经济约束在加拿大老年人选择居住安排（与子女和/或其他亲属一起居住与独立居住）方面的作用。我们发现，具有家庭主义文化价值观的族裔群体成员（意大利人、中国人、南亚人和东印度人）比具有个人主义文化价值观的群体成员（英国人、德国人、荷兰人）更有可能与亲属一起生活。经济劣势也意味着更有可能与亲属一起生活。然而，文化偏好和经济约束作为老年人居住安排决定因素的相对重要性取决于婚姻状况。在已婚人群中，文化偏好解释了居住安排变化的更大比例；在未婚人群中，经济约束则起到了更大的作用。与之前忽视婚姻状况的研究相比，这项研究对老年人的居住安排有了更细致的了解。
