Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Sociology, August 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.R.E.)--Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary, 1961. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [100]-107).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 467-504).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-95).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2002. Graduate Programme in Geography. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-123). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71631.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

Age identity has long been considered a more meaningful and accurate reflection of the aging process than chronological age. However, it is still a mostly unexplored concept among Chinese older adults. What are the correlates of age identity from the perspective of a multidimensional, culturally-shared model of aging? How do Chinese older adults describe their age identities, and are there any recent related trends? Does the adaptive value of youthful age identity in later life, which promotes well-being and successful aging, also exist in the Chinese context? Six studies using quantitative methods were devised to answer the above questions. Data were drawn from the three waves of the Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China (SSAPUR), with Study I using data from the 2006 SSAPUR, Study II using data from the 2000, 2006, and 2010 SSAPURs, and Studies III-VI using 4-year-panel data from the 2006 and 2010 SSAPURs. Study I examined correlates of age identity among Chinese older adults (N = 18,925). The findings reveal that multidimensional age markers, including chronological age, number of chronic conditions, widowhood, loss of both parents, and perceived onset of forgetfulness were all positively associated with age identity. Among these, perceived onset of forgetfulness was the strongest predictor. Study II investigated how Chinese older adults describe their age identities, and whether or not there have been any trends over the most recent decade (N = 20,166 in 2000; N = 19,922 in 2006; N = 19,874 in 2010). The findings reveal that old age is perceived to start at around the chronological age of 60 years, but that women are perceived as becoming old four years earlier than men. The findings also indicate that a majority of Chinese older adults reported feeling old. Nevertheless, there has been a general upward trend for increasingly higher percentages of them to report not feeling old over the recent years. Study III determined the effect of age identity on subjective well-being among Chinese older adults (N = 11,306). The findings indicate that a baseline youthful age identity is associated with better subjective well-being. Study IV investigated the impact of age identity on physical functioning among Chinese older adults (N = 11,366), and its findings indicate that a baseline youthful age identity is related to better physical functioning. Study V examined the impact of age identity on productive engagement, including paid work and volunteering among Chinese older adults (N = 11,473). The findings indicate that relative to abaselineold age identity, a baseline youthful age identity is associated with higher odds of productive engagement. On the basis of Studies III-V, Study VI explored the impact of age identity on a multidimensional conceptualization of successful aging among Chinese older adults (N = 10,070), and its findings indicate that a baseline youthful age identity is associated with higher odds of successful aging. The practical and theoretical implications of the present research are discussed in this thesis, along with its limitations and recommendations for future research. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Population aging becomes a serious social problem when the society develops into a certain stage, and it has a close relationship with the national economy and people’s livelihood, as well as the future of a country. Also, the improvement of medical level and social welfare help people prolong their life expectancy. As a developing country, which includes nearly 1/4 population of the world, China also faces the severe aging problem. After the establishment of People’s Republic of China, the population grows with a very high rapid. Later, the Chinese government implemented the One Child Policy at the beginning of 1980, this policy gradually modified the family structure in the micro dimension and the population structure in the macro dimension. There are more and more 4-2-1 families, which means there are 4 grandparents, 2 parents and only one child in one family, and this family structure causes some troubles and challenges to the traditional model, which is taking care of the old at home. The government and families all have difficulties to take care of the elderly people. As a result, the elderly housing emerges at the right moment. The world pays more attention to taking care of the elderly people, and many relative concepts have been introduced around the world. Such as the healthy ageing and active ageing pronounced by the WHO, and some other concepts like the ageing-in-place and community care, etc. All of these concepts give us a theoretical foundation when research on the development of elderly housing in China. Beijing Suncity Living Community is one of the best elderly communities in China, this dissertation tries to do a case study about the elderly housing in Suncity. After the data analysis, the author found that the Suncity does well in the design of the community, which suits the physical characteristics of the elderly people. Also, the services and facilities for the elderly people are relative complete, which can help the elderly people to spend their spare time in a more interesting way. However, the management in the Suncity is not good, and this may give the elderly people a sense of unsafety. Also, it may bring bad impact to their psychological health. Then, the recommendation about both the Suncity and the development of elderly housing in China will also be given. For the Suncity, it must change the poor management, and one method is to employ some professional people to enhance the management level. For the later development of elderly housing in China, recommendations are given from design of the elderly community and management of the elderly community. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

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