Jetten Jolanda, Dane Sharon, Williams Elyse, Liu Shuang, Haslam Catherine, Gallois Cindy, McDonald Vivienne
a School of Psychology , University of Queensland , Queensland , Australia.
b School of Communication and Arts , University of Queensland , Queensland , Australia.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2018 Dec;13(1):1508198. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1508198.
Over and above the risks associated with ageing, older migrants are also at risk of social isolation. The social identity approach, and the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) in particular, provides a theoretical basis from which to understand the factors contributing to social isolation and how this then impacts on older migrants' capacity to age well in a foreign land. Building on the recognition that migration involves a major life change, we explore this transition qualitatively focusing specifically on social connectedness and adjustment.
In semi-structured interviews with 29 older migrants in Australia, we examined participants' experiences of migration and perceptions of identity and identity change. We also considered in more detail experiences of the most and least socially isolated individuals to understand adjustment trajectories.
We found evidence supporting the key processes described in SIMIC (relating to social identity continuity, social identity gain, and perceived identity compatibility), suggesting that where adjustment was positive it was experienced as a process of successfully adapting to identity change.
We emphasise the importance of identity resources as substantial and concrete assets that can enhance the well-being among older adults aging in a foreign land.
除了与衰老相关的风险外，老年移民还面临社会孤立的风险。社会认同方法，特别是认同变化的社会认同模型（SIMIC），为理解导致社会孤立的因素以及这如何影响老年移民在异国他乡安享晚年的能力提供了理论基础。基于对移民涉及重大生活变化的认识，我们定性地探讨这一转变，特别关注社会联系和适应情况。
在对澳大利亚29名老年移民进行的半结构化访谈中，我们考察了参与者的移民经历以及对认同和认同变化的看法。我们还更详细地考虑了社会孤立程度最高和最低的个体的经历，以了解适应轨迹。
我们发现了支持SIMIC中所描述的关键过程（与社会认同连续性、社会认同获得和感知认同兼容性有关）的证据，这表明如果适应是积极的，它会被体验为一个成功适应认同变化的过程。
我们强调认同资源作为重要且具体的资产的重要性，这些资产可以增进在异国他乡生活的老年人的幸福感。
