Active ageing from older persons’ perspectives : a qualitative study in Luoyang, China

Abstract

The active ageing concept has been overwhelmingly studied in Western societies. Yet, the way Chinese older persons view and experience active ageing in the context of Eastern culture and tradition is rarely reported. The three critical pillars of active ageing: health, participation and security as defined by World Health organisation (WHO, 2002) shift the focus on ageing population from a burden to a positive aspect of participation and contribution and calls on empowering the environment. This research adopted a qualitative approach. Data were collected through one-to-one, semi-structured virtual interviews with 16 older participants from Luoyang, a central, middle-sized city in China. The researcher sought to explore how older Chinese persons perceive and experience active ageing. Participants were recruited with the assistance of two gatekeepers. A purposive heterogeneous sample was applied and participants varied in terms of gender, dwelling location, education attainment, career background, pension status and family structure. Data were thematically analysed as guided by Braun and Clarke (2006). The general findings echo WHO’s active ageing six determinants (WHO, 2002). While intertwined, one or more factors may compensate or dominate others. Time-honoured filial piety tradition ingrained in the Chinese culture, and social values were found to retain a significant influence on older person’s expectations and behaviour. Within the context of rapid economic development and demographic transition, older persons themselves and younger generations are interactively adapting to a newly-shaped reciprocal relationship. Five dimensions of active ageing from the perspectives of older persons have been identified from this research. The prominent characteristics of these dimensions stems from filial piety tradition, which is being maintained and inherited by generations’ efforts to deal with the ageing challenge, and maintain health and family-bond productivity. The findings suggest that active ageing policy should consider older persons’ psychological and cultural expectations for a better quality of life. Given the large scale and speed of ageing, China has to conduct fundamental research based on its own cultural, traditional and social-economic situation, in the meantime, actively learn from Western experience to develop and implement “right-based” active ageing policies.