The Vertical and Horizontal Relations of Korean and Korean American Older Adults and Their Well-Being

Various relationships are important for the well-being of older adults. This session focuses on the vertical and horizontal relations of Korean and Korean American older adults and their well-being. The purpose of this session is to highlight the importance of intergenerational relations and social involvement of Korean and Korean American older adults. For vertical relations, two studies focus on intergenerational relationships and solidarity. The first study investigated whether intergenerational relationships and social support mediate the distressing consequences of life events, and how this improved the psychological well-being of Korean older adults. The second study developed a standardized measurement tool for intergenerational solidarity because intergenerational conflicts caused by rapid socioeconomic changes have highlighted the importance of strengthening intergenerational solidarity. The third and fourth studies focus on horizontal relations involving social isolation and social involvement. Guided by the double jeopardy hypothesis, the third study examined the health risks posed by the coexistence of social and linguistic isolation in older Korean Americans. As the opposite of social isolation, social involvement was an important factor of social integration of older adults. The fourth study examined volunteering as an example of social involvement by focusing on older adults’ volunteering on the social integration and role identity. Implications of this study suggest not only the importance of social involvement but also the intergenerational relationships on older adults’ well-being.

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ADVANCE CARE PLANNING IN ACCULTURATION AND USE OF NURSING HOME AMONG KOREAN AMERICANS

The study examined attitudes towards Advance Care Planning (ACP) as a potential mediator in the association between acculturation and willingness to use nursing home in Korean American older adults (aged 60 and older). Data were driven from a cross-sectional study of 235 community-dwelling Korean American older adults (aged 60 and older) in 2013. Multivariate regression models of willingness to use nursing home were entered in the following order: (1) demographics, (2) health, (3) acculturation, and (4) attitudes towards advance care planning. The mediation effect of attitudes towards ACP in the relationship between acculturation and willingness to use nursing home was separately examined using the bootstrapping method. Higher acculturation was associated with positive attitudes towards ACP and more likelihood of using nursing home. The proposed mediation model was fully supported: positive attitudes towards ACP served as an intervening step between acculturation and willingness to use nursing home. The mediating role of attitudes towards ACP yields implications for developing culturally sensitive advance care planning education program targeting older individuals.