Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Aging Ment Health. 2022 Aug;26(8):1642-1653. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1926426. Epub 2021 May 26.
Acculturation to the mainstream culture and the settlement contexts could shape cognitive function of older immigrants. Guided by ecological theory, this study examines the interaction effect between individual acculturation and ecology of family on cognitive function among older Chinese Americans.
Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago ( = 3,019). Family types included , and . Acculturation was measured via language ability, media use, and ethnic social relations. Cognitive function was evaluated by global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and mini-mental state examination. Multiple regression analyses and interaction terms were used.
Older adults in the commanding-conflicted type had the lowest cognitive function. After controlling confounding variables, higher levels of acculturation ( = 0.009, SE = 0.003, < .01) were associated with higher levels of global cognition. Acculturation buffered the negative impact of having a commanding-conflicted relationship with children on global cognition ( = 0.070, SE = 0.016, < .001). Language ability, media use, and ethnic social relations played a unique role in the relationships between family types and cognitive domains.
Acculturation to the dominant culture is identified as a cultural asset for cognitive function in older Chinese Americans. Social services could protect cognitive function of older immigrants in the commanding-conflicted type through enhancing cultural participation. Future research could test how affective and cognitive aspects of acculturation affect health.
主流文化和居住环境的文化适应可能会影响老年移民的认知功能。本研究以生态理论为指导，探讨了个体文化适应和家庭生态环境对老年美籍华人认知功能的交互作用。
数据来源于芝加哥华人老年人口研究（ = 3019）。家庭类型包括核心家庭、主干家庭和联合家庭。文化适应通过语言能力、媒体使用和族裔社会关系来衡量。认知功能通过整体认知、情景记忆、工作记忆、处理速度和简易精神状态检查来评估。采用多元回归分析和交互项。
在支配冲突型的老年人认知功能最低。在控制混杂变量后，较高的文化适应水平（ = 0.009，SE = 0.003， <.01）与较高的整体认知水平相关。文化适应缓冲了与子女之间的支配冲突关系对整体认知的负面影响（ = 0.070，SE = 0.016， <.001）。语言能力、媒体使用和族裔社会关系在家庭类型与认知领域之间的关系中发挥了独特的作用。
文化适应为主流文化被认为是老年美籍华人认知功能的文化资产。社会服务可以通过增强文化参与来保护支配冲突型老年移民的认知功能。未来的研究可以检验文化适应的情感和认知方面如何影响健康。
