Liu Jinyu, Dong XinQi, Nguyen Duy, Lai Daniel W L
School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York.
Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017 Jul 1;72(suppl_1):S113-S118. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw138.
Given the growth in the number of older Chinese immigrants in the United States and the importance of family support in Chinese culture, this study examines how supportive and negative relationships with family members (children and spouse) influence depressive symptom severity among this population.
Using data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, we carried out multivariate negative binomial regression analysis using a sample of 3,159 Chinese older immigrants. Depressive symptom severity was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Intergenerational and marital relationships were characterized using self-reported measures of two supportive features (confiding and aiding) and two negative features (demanding and criticizing).
Confiding and aiding relationships with children (incident rate ratio [IRR] = .70, confidence interval [CI]: 0.57, 0.85; IRR = .70, CI: 0.56, 0.88, respectively) and spouses (IRR = .61, CI:0.47, 0.79; IRR = .66, CI: 0.52, 0.83, respectively) were significantly associated with lower depressive symptom severity among the older Chinese immigrants sampled. Demanding (IRR = 1.39, CI: 1.16, 1.68) and criticizing (IRR = 1.37, CI: 1.17, 1.60) intergenerational relationships significantly predicted higher depressive symptom severity, and spousal criticism (IRR = 1.41, CI: 1.24, 1.59) was related to higher depressive symptom severity. Aiding relationships with children appears to be more important for older women than men (IRR = .69, CI: 0.47, 1.01).
The findings reveal the importance of both positive and negative interactions with spouses and children in shaping mental well-being among older Chinese immigrants. Future geriatric practice and research should consider both supportive and negative features in examining and addressing interpersonal relationships and mental health.
鉴于美国华裔老年移民数量的增长以及家庭支持在中国文化中的重要性，本研究探讨与家庭成员（子女和配偶）的支持性和负面关系如何影响该人群的抑郁症状严重程度。
利用芝加哥华裔老年人人口研究的数据，我们对3159名华裔老年移民样本进行了多元负二项回归分析。抑郁症状严重程度采用患者健康问卷进行测量。代际关系和婚姻关系通过自我报告的两种支持性特征（倾诉和帮助）以及两种负面特征（要求和批评）来表征。
与子女（发生率比[IRR]=0.70，置信区间[CI]：0.57，0.85；IRR=0.70，CI：0.56，0.88）和配偶（IRR=0.61，CI：0.47，0.79；IRR=0.66，CI：0.52，0.83）的倾诉和帮助关系与抽样的华裔老年移民中较低的抑郁症状严重程度显著相关。代际关系中的要求（IRR=1.39，CI：1.16，1.68）和批评（IRR=1.37，CI：1.17，1.60）显著预测了较高的抑郁症状严重程度，配偶的批评（IRR=1.41，CI：1.24，1.59）与较高的抑郁症状严重程度相关。与子女的帮助关系对老年女性似乎比对男性更重要（IRR=0.69，CI：0.47，1.01）。
研究结果揭示了与配偶和子女的积极和消极互动在塑造华裔老年移民心理健康方面的重要性。未来的老年医学实践和研究在检查和处理人际关系及心理健康时应考虑支持性和负面特征。
