Journal article
Intergenerational Solidarity and Mental Health in Chinese American Families: A Dyadic Approach
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.80(7), gbaf079
06/10/2025
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaf079
PMCID: PMC12166473
PMID: 40296850
Abstract
Existing family and caregiving studies have primarily focused on the mental health of either older adults or adult children. Less is known about the effect of intergenerational relations on the mental health of both generations. This study examined the association between intergenerational solidarity and mental health among older Chinese Americans and their adult children using a dyadic analysis, considering the gendered nature of these relationships.
This study included 214 father-child and 339 mother-child dyads. Four indicators of intergenerational solidarity (emotional closeness, contact frequency, upward emotional support, upward financial support) and mental health (anxiety, depression, loneliness) were assessed in both generations. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models were used.
Greater emotional closeness with their adult children reported by mothers was associated with better mental health in mothers, whereas children's reported emotional closeness with fathers, but not with mothers, was associated with better mental health in children. Daily contact reported by fathers and adult children showed a positive association with their respective mental health. Higher upward emotional support reported by fathers, mothers, and children was associated with mental health in each respective group. Higher upward financial support reported by fathers and mothers was linked to better mental health in each respective group.
These findings enrich the intergenerational solidarity model by showing how intergenerational solidarity shapes well-being across generations in immigration contexts, varying by solidarity dimension and parental gender. The results suggest that targeted mental health interventions, such as fostering emotional support within immigrant families, may promote well-being for both generations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intergenerational Solidarity and Mental Health in Chinese American Families: A Dyadic Approach
- Creators
- Mengting Li - Renmin University of ChinaQun Le - University of Massachusetts LowellMan Guo - University of IowaChangmin Peng - University of Massachusetts BostonFengyan Tang - University of PittsburghWendi Da - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyYanping Jiang - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.80(7), gbaf079
- DOI
- 10.1093/geronb/gbaf079
- PMID
- 40296850
- PMCID
- PMC12166473
- NLM abbreviation
- J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
- ISSN
- 1758-5368
- eISSN
- 1758-5368
- Publisher
- OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
- Grant note
- Alzheimer's Association: AARG-NTF-20-684568 Renmin University of China: 202330043 National Institutes of Health: R01AG067548
M. Li was supported by Alzheimer's Association (grant number AARG-NTF-20-684568) and Renmin University of China(grant number 202330043). F. Tang was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant number R01AG067548).
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 04/26/2025
- Date published
- 06/10/2025
- Academic Unit
- School of Social Work
- Record Identifier
- 9984816016802771
Metrics
1 Record Views