Chen Haiping, Adamek Margaret
1 Indiana University School of Social Work, Katy, TX, USA.
Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2017 Jul;85(2):204-226. doi: 10.1177/0091415016685326. Epub 2016 Dec 28.
Due to great challenges resulting from China's rapid population aging, Chinese elders are mobilized to address problems caused by this demographic trend through civic engagement. Based on an integrative review of policy, research, and practice, this article reveals that today's Chinese elders have a higher level and wider scope of civic engagement than previous cohorts. A set of factors contributing to such improvement are further identified, including the reform of the national economy, transformation of governmental functions, and the use of effective strategies applied to concrete programs. However, several constraints limiting Chinese elders' equal, active engagement in civic life remain, including the social stratification of older adults, preferential selection of participants due to the nation's socioeconomic development strategy, and family care work competing with other types of civic activities. Finally, future directions for policy, research, and practice are proposed in order to increase Chinese elders' civic engagement.
由于中国人口迅速老龄化带来巨大挑战，中国老年人被动员起来，通过公民参与来应对这一人口趋势所引发的问题。基于对政策、研究和实践的综合回顾，本文揭示，如今的中国老年人比前几代人有更高水平、更广泛范围的公民参与。进一步确定了促成这种改善的一系列因素，包括国家经济改革、政府职能转变以及应用于具体项目的有效策略。然而，限制中国老年人平等、积极参与公民生活的若干制约因素依然存在，包括老年人的社会分层、因国家社会经济发展战略而对参与者的优先选择，以及家庭照料工作与其他类型公民活动的竞争。最后，为增加中国老年人的公民参与，提出了政策、研究和实践的未来方向。
