Multiple Predictors of Korean Elderly Men's Leisure Participation

This study examines the leisure constraints experienced by elderly men and investigates how leisure constraints affect their level of participation in leisure activities. A convenience sampling of the independent elderly, sixty or older, residing in Seoul and the province of Kyenggi in Korea comprised the study sample. Of the total 275 participants, 164 were male. The study employed hierarchical multiple regression analysis including demographic, health status, financial status, and leisure constraint factors impacting participation in leisure activities. The findings of the study highlight the importance of interpersonal constraints of elderly men in leisure participation. The elderly men reported significantly higher levels of interpersonal constraints than the elderly women. Financial status factors, such as leisure allowance and employment status, were confirmed to be more influential predictors in determining the elderly men's leisure participation. Practice implications include considering interpersonal constraints or financial status to enhance elderly men's leisure life.     

The Role of Federal Policies in Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Families

Abstract

Grandparents caring for their grandchildren is among the oldest practices in child rearing with roots embedded in the traditions across many cultures. However, in recent years, the issue of “grandparents raising their grandchildren” has garnered the attention of researchers, advocates, service providers and even the popular press. Dynamic changes in family life, related social trends and child welfare policies in the United States have resulted in dramatic growth of intergenerational care giving among this population. The 2000 United States Census shows that there are 6 million children living in grandparent- and other relative-maintained households, which represents a thirty-percent increase from the last Census. This growth has created the need for effective federal policies that support and insure the well-being of these families.

This paper examines some of the reasons grandparents raising grandchildren are capturing public attention, and the growing needs for effective federal policies that support this burgeoning population. We will (1) provide a brief demographic sketch of grandparent-headed families, (2) identify some of the challenges faced by these families, and (3) explore some of the most effective federal public policies, in particular the new National Family Caregiver Support Program, which are emerging from an intergenerational agenda directed at assisting these families. We conclude by noting that the issue of “grandparents raising their grandchildren” presents a unique opportunity to develop coalitions and policies that cross sometimes rigidly defined age-based policy structures.     

Understanding Intergenerational Relationships in India

ABSTRACT

This paper makes an attempt to describe the status and role of elderly within the family and community institutions as a source of wisdom and knowledge, particularly to have an understanding of the intergenerational relationships in the Indian context. As the countries and areas of Asia develop economically and become more heavily urban, the familial support of the elderly has eroded. There are a number of reasons to think that traditional systems of familial care for the elderly in Asia have started to reflect this changing scenario in terms of increasing problems for the elderly. The Indian subcontinent too has experienced these transitional changes. But despite the changes in the structures and functions of Indian societies, families do preserve the norms of social hierarchy (of which the elderly are an important part), cultural styles and mode of living. At the same time elderly who are regarded as the sources of wisdom and knowledge are given due respect and place in the society within the ambit of the family and community contexts.     

论交换型养老的特征、逻辑及其影响——基于华北平原地区的调查

在华北地区调查发现农村交换型养老现象凸显,农村养老呈现出交换内容的物质化、指标化和清晰化的特征,农村的养老逻辑不再是回报父母养育之恩的责任伦理,而是需用物质或者获致性方面来交换的经济理性,并且这种交换关系具有不平等性。交换型养老带来了老人生活状况的恶化,代际关系的均衡化以及农民人生意义的丧失等深远影响。解决我国农村养老问题需进一步关注老年人的精神建设。     

哪些老年人更倾向于入住养老院？--基于江苏农村地区的实证调查数据

在城市化加速发展、家庭结构迅速小型化及人口老龄化加剧的社会形势下,农村老年人对养老院的入住意愿正在发生变化。以江苏省为例,运用 Logistic 模型对农村老年人养老院入住意愿进行回归分析。研究结果表明,农村老年人对养老院的入住意愿主要受文化程度、个人月收入、健康状况、存活女儿数、共同生活人数以及晚年生活满意度等因素的影响。政策含义在于,尊重农村老年人对养老院的入住意愿,推动农村地区养老服务事业发展;充分考虑农村地区经济发展水平,对农村养老机构的层次和规模进行战略规划;从农村地区实际出发,对农村养老院功能定位进行适当的引导。     

Comparison of breastfeeding in rural areas of Sweden and Australia – a cohort study

BackgroundBreastfeeding rates in Sweden and Australia appears to be decreasing in both countries. National statistics shows that 87% of infants in Sweden and 73% in Australia receive any breastfeeding two months of age.AimTo compare women's experiences of breastfeeding in Sweden and Australia and to identify factors associated with breastfeeding two months after birth.MethodsA cohort study in two rural hospitals in mid Sweden (n = 300) and north-eastern Victoria in Australia (n = 91) during 2007–2009. Participants responded to questionnaires in mid pregnancy and two months after birth. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were used to detect differences between women in both cohorts.FindingsWomen in Sweden (88.3%) were more likely to report any breastfeeding of the baby two months after birth (OR 2.41; 95% CI: 1.33–4.38) compared to women in Australia (75.8%) but were less satisfied with breastfeeding support and information. The most important factor associated with breastfeeding at two months postpartum for the Swedish women was to have received sufficient information about breastfeeding on the postnatal ward (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.41–4.76) while for the Australian women receiving the best possible help when breastfeeding for the first time was most important (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.50–12.46).ConclusionThe results indicate that Swedish women were more likely than their Australian counterparts to breastfeed the baby two months after birth. The findings demonstrated the importance of sufficient information and help when breastfeeding is initiated.     

Current Concepts and Management of Cancer Pain in Older Women

Pain is the most common symptom associated with cancer. Sixty to eighty-five percent of individuals with advanced cancer have pain either of a severe or a chronic nature. Despite the fact that appropriate pain management exists, cancer pain is often inadequately controlled. Management strategies for older cancer patients must address the physical, psychological, and social concerns of the individual. The special problems of drug management presented by older patients reinforces the importance of implementing nonpharmacologic therapies when possible.     

Role of AKRSP on Gender Development: A Case Study in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

In Pakistan, nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) play an important role in program implementation. This study focuses on the contribution of one of these NGO social service programs that serves women in a rural area of Pakistan. To assess program satisfaction and effectiveness, 200 females were surveyed to measure their opinions and overall satisfaction with this particular NGO. The key findings of the study showed that the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) had a significant positive impact on the lives of these women through increasing social and decision-making skills while improving their income and living standards by providing employment opportunities and training. Future recommendations are made to continue to sponsor such programs that focus on a group-support for women while also providing supportive services that empower decision-making and economic standing.     

社会融合视角下中国老年流动人口居留意愿的影响因素

将老年流动人口视为同质性群体易忽视其个体主观能动性,因此从社会融合视角,利用潜在类别分析方法将老年流动人口进行分类,分为积极融合型和消极融合型。不同类型老年流动人口居留意愿选择偏好存在异质性,积极融合型老年流动人口更倾向于选择"长期居留"。对比其影响因素的差异,发现消极融合型老年流动人口"长期居留"意愿的影响因素明显增多。与全样本对比,潜在类别划分后的老年流动人口居留意愿受个人特征影响显著。针对较高的社会融入需求和不同的居留意愿,应统筹做好老年流动人口户籍需求和住房保障,积极推进老年流动人口养老服务能力建设,不断提升老年流动人口医疗卫生保障质量,开展老年流动人口示范街区建设,提高老年流动人口社会融合能力。