Social Life of Older People Living Alone in Hong Kong Wai Kwan YU

345 Pages·2015·2.71 MB·English

Social Life of Older People Living Alone
in Hong Kong

Wai Kwan YU

Doctor of Philosophy

University of York
Social Policy and Social Work

September 2014
Abstract

Hong Kong’s population is ageing. The increase of older people living alone and
their living arrangement have raised much concern in recent years. More
seriously, many of those living alone are found and identified to be disengaged
from the community and disadvantaged yet not helped by available services and
support. The aim of this research is mainly to gain an in-depth understanding of
the perspectives of the social lives of older people living alone in Hong Kong
through exploring their social life patterns and experiences. The areas of study
include the understanding of what major factors contribute to or influence their
social lives and the difference in social life before and after living alone.
A qualitative method is adopted by conducting in-depth semi-structured
interviews with thirty Chinese older people aged 65 or over and living alone for
five years or above. For the purpose of triangulation for reliability and validity,
three focus groups were also conducted after the completion of individual
interviews.
Research findings indicate that the reasons for living alone for most of the
research participants seem to be involuntary and the choice of living alone
depends on some socioeconomic factors such as changes in family structure and
life. The greatest change in lifestyle usually occurs because of the death of a
spouse. Among those living alone for longer periods, family relationships with
their adult children have diminished and thus, they long for genuine concern
and care from others. Social life, as perceived by older people, is important as it
brings benefits for mental health. Emotional support that develops by
expanding social relationships with peer groups is the most important in later
life when living alone. Most of the females enjoy expanding their social circles
from their domestic circles. Males prefer to continue working after retirement.
They show passive in joining social activities but develop their own interests.
Worsening health, having no companion, financial difficulties and lacking
community resources are regarded as obstacles to expanding their social circles
and joining social activities.

The findings of the study are expected to provide reference for service providers
in the field of social work with older people to explore whether there are
community resources or welfare services that can help to improve the social
lives of older people living alone.
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Table of Contents

Abstract 2

Table of Contents 3

List of Tables 8

List of Figures 9

Acknowledgements 10

Author’s Declaration 12

Chapter One Introduction

1. Background of study 13
2. Scope of study 14
3. Aims of research study 15
4. Research question 16
5. Structure of the thesis 16

Chapter Two The Ageing Population and Welfare Service Provision

1. The ageing population 17
1.1 The global population trend 17
1.2 The Hong Kong population trend 21
1.3 Characteristics of the older population in Hong Kong 25
1.4 Implication of ageing population 28
2. Older people living alone 32
2.1 The global situation 32
2.2 The empty-nesters in Mainland China 35
3. Living alone in Hong Kong – a review of studies 37
3.1 The official studies of older people living alone 37
3.1.1 A profile of elderly persons aged 60 and over living alone 37
3.1.2 Study on one-person domestic households with older people 41
3.2 Studies on the unidentified group – ‘hidden elderly’ 42
4. Social welfare for older people in Hong Kong 46
4.1 The historical background 46
4.2 Welfare policy for older people 49

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4.3 Welfare service for older people living alone 52
4.4 Ageing in place 55
4.5 Active ageing and related concepts 58

Chapter Three Changes in Family Life and Quality of Life

1. The changes of family life 66
1.1 Family life in traditional Chinese society 66
1.2 The changes in family life in Hong Kong 68
2. Quality of life in Later Life 74
2.1 Definitions, concepts and measurement of quality of life 74
2.2 Models of quality of life 76
2.3 Perspectives of older people on quality of life 77
2.4 Quality of life of older people in Hong Kong 79
3. Social life and living alone in old age 81

Chapter Four Theories for Understanding Social Life of Older People

1. Disengagement Theory 87
2. Activity theory 89
3. Continuity Theory 91
4. Attachment Theory 93
5. Developmental stages of Erikson’s theory 97
6. Social networking: a perspective of social capital 104

Chapter Five Research Methodology

1. Operational definitions 109
2. Research design 116
2.1 Qualitative method 116
2.2 In-depth interviews with semi-structured questions 118
2.3 Data collection 121
2.3.1 Sampling and selection 121
2.3.2 The Process of data collection 123
2.3.3 The pilot study 125
2.4 Data analysis 126
2.4.1 Preparation of raw data files 127
2.4.2 Close reading of text 127
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2.4.3 Creation of categories 128
2.4.4 Overlapping coding and uncoded text 129
2.4.5 Continuing revision and refinement of category system 130
2.5 Reliability and validity 132
3. Ethical considerations 135
4. Reflexivity on researcher’s role 138
5. Concluding summary 140

Chapter Six The Decision to Live Alone and Resultant Adjustments to
Change

1. Socio-economic characteristics of the research participants 141
2. Making the choice to live alone 144
2.1 Changes in family life and relationship 144
2.2 Over-crowded living environment in a familiar community 148
2.3 Strained relationship owing to personal habits 150
2.4 Culture differences related to migration 152
2.5 The single cohort 154
3. Adjustment to change 156
3.1 Independent living arrangement 157
3.2 Psychological adaptation 161
3.3 Expansion into social networks 164
4. Concluding summary 166

Chapter Seven Daily Activities and Participation in Social Activities

1. Daily activities 168
1.1 Sleeping time 168
1.2 Activities in the morning 170
1.3 Activities in the afternoon 174
1.4 Activities in the evening 177
1.5 Activities during weekends or festive times 178
2. Participation in social activities 180
2.1 Religious activities 180
2.2 Social service activities 185
3. Concluding summary 190

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Chapter Eight Relationship in Social Networks

1. Relationship with family members and close relatives 191
1.1 Means and frequencies of contacts 191
1.2 Perspectives on relationships with family members and close
relatives 194
2. Relationship with neighbours and friends 197
2.1 Means and frequencies of contacts 197
2.2 Perspectives on relationships with neighbours and friends 202
3. Relationship with social welfare service providers 204
3.1 Means and frequencies of contacts 204
3.2 Perspectives on relationships with social welfare service
providers 207
4. Concluding summary 209

Chapter Nine Perspectives on Social Life in Later Life

1. Social life in old people’s eyes 211
2. Experience of loneliness 214
3. Factors determining present social life 217
3.1 Physical function 217
3.2 Mental status 219
3.3 Availability of companionship 223
3.4 Knowledge of community resources 224
4. Expectation of social life 226
5. Concluding summary 229

Chapter Ten Comparison of Different Sub-groups

1. Present social life pattern 231
1.1 Men versus women 231
1.2 Young-old versus oldest-old 233
1.3 Living alone longest versus living alone shortest 235
2. Perspectives on social life in old age 237
2.1 Men versus women 237
2.2 Young-old versus oldest-old 239
2.3 Living alone longest versus living alone shortest 241
3. Concluding summary 243
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Chapter Eleven Discussion

1. Changes in family life and family relationships 245
1.1 From extended to nuclear 245
1.2 Role and value changes 247
1.3 Practice of the filial piety 250
2. The need for social life 254
2.1 Attachment transfer: from family to peers 255
2.2 Disengagement from society 258
2.3 Resolving psychosocial crisis 262
3. Social networking and relationship 264
4. Perspective of social life 268
4.1 Active engagement in social life 268
4.2 Enhancement of quality of life 270
4.3 Attainment of active ageing 273
5. ‘Hidden’ older people 275
6. Concluding summary 278

Chapter Twelve Conclusion 280

1. Summary of research findings 280
2. Implications for policy and recommendations for practice 285
3. Limitations of the research study 288
4. Recommendations for further research 289
5. Concluding remarks 290

Appendices 292

List of Abbreviations 307

Bibliography 308

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List of Tables

Table 1: Population aged 60 years and over in selected countries in Eastern
and South-Eastern Asia

Table 2: The ten countries or areas with the highest life expectancy at birth:
2005-2010 and 2045-2050

Table 3: Research participants’ information

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Number and proportion of older persons, 1961-2011

Figure2: Hong Kong population pyramid, 1961, 2005 and 2033

Figure 3: Proportion of older men and of older women living alone, for the
world and major areas (Persons aged 60 years or over)

Figure 4: Living arrangements of older persons in more developed and less
developed regions (Persons aged 60 years or over)

Figure 5: Living arrangements of older persons, by major area (Persons aged 60
years or older)

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Acknowledgements

My special and warmest thanks must go to my thesis supervisor, Ms. Juliet
Koprowska who has given me much valuable guidance, insights and constructive
comments throughout my doctoral study. Her continued support and
encouragement always stimulates me to further efforts.

I would like to express my gratitude to my thesis advisors, Professor Mary
Maynard and Dr. Martin Webber. Both of them have also given me invaluable
advice and instructive comments on the development of my research study.

I am also thankful to Professor Ian Shaw kindly encouraged my application
process for doctoral study at the very beginning.

My deepest thanks go to my dearest friends, Mr. Ken Bridgewater and his wife,
Mrs. Aileen Bridgewater. Without their kindness and support, this academic
achievement would not have been fulfilled. I was saddened to hear that Mrs.
Aileen Bridgewater passed away in November 2014. I will dearly miss her.

Equally importantly, my hearty thanks go to two amazing friends, Mr. Paul Hung
who consistently gives me endless support and encouragement and has always
been willing to lend his hand over the years and lastly Mr. Man-Yuen Tsoi who
assisted generously and effectively during my research interviews process. I owe
them both a deep debt of gratitude.

Moreover, I am most thankful to the elderly services agency staff that
generously helped in my qualitative interviews. My sincere gratitude also goes
to all my research participants. I deeply appreciated their patience in attending
the in-depth interviews and focus groups’ meetings and sharing their life
experience. Without their contribution, this study would not have been possible.
Their positive attitude towards later life and active participation in social life
impressed me very much.

Last but not least, I must particularly thank my younger sister, Sarah who
faithfully cared for our oldest-old mother during my periods of study overseas.
With her support, I was able to pay full attention to my studies without worries.

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