The perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
The perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
Purpose: To explore older adults’ perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers (MDWs) and examine the correlation between older adult/MDW (O-M) relationship quality and loneliness of community-dwelling older adults. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, older adults living with MDWs were conveniently recruited from neighbourhood elderly centers in Hong Kong. Loneliness and O-M relationship quality were assessed by the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the mutuality scale, respectively. Older adults’ demographic and functional characteristics, and MDW's nationality, spoken language and years of service in the dyad were also collected. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the contributions of 1) demographic variables and functional status, 2) MDW characteristics, 3) perceived social network and 4) perceived O-M relationship quality on loneliness. Results: The 178 participants [mean age 83.44 (SD 7.05 years); 155 (87.1%) women and 23 men (22.9%)] were socially lonely (1.07 ± 1.15) and close to being lonely overall (1.90 ± 1.68), and emotionally (0.84 ± 0.97). The mean O-M relationship quality was poor (1.42 ± 0.79), which was significantly correlated with overall (β = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.01, P value = 0.045), and social (β= -0.24, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.01, P value = 0.04) loneliness, but not significantly correlated to emotional loneliness. Conclusion: Better perceived O-M relationship quality is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among older adults. Strategies to improve O-M relationship quality may alleviate loneliness among older adults.
Loneliness, Migrant domestic workers, Mutuality, Older adults, Relationship quality, Social support, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Loneliness/psychology, Independent Living, Male, Emotions, Transients and Migrants, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Aged
104952
Ho, Ken H.M.
fe70a8e8-b717-4838-8de7-fff73e4d227b
Hung, Maria S.Y.
246c19af-6edf-493f-be86-8b664ec48b9d
Zhang, Youjuan
cc2f8341-20db-4317-8a3c-1c386aa3a17b
Bai, Xue
eef8d3ce-99bd-49aa-a999-629bb54f8651
Cheung, Daphne S.K.
4d789122-86c7-4ecb-881c-af510f070ce4
Chow, Meyrick C.M.
556afe83-e897-4a87-8b83-987f61a3ad02
Lee, Paul H.
02620eab-ae7f-4a1c-bad1-8a50e7e48951
Chien, Wai Tong
b060431b-1453-4064-a8b0-6c3d44bae8d1
1 June 2023
Ho, Ken H.M.
fe70a8e8-b717-4838-8de7-fff73e4d227b
Hung, Maria S.Y.
246c19af-6edf-493f-be86-8b664ec48b9d
Zhang, Youjuan
cc2f8341-20db-4317-8a3c-1c386aa3a17b
Bai, Xue
eef8d3ce-99bd-49aa-a999-629bb54f8651
Cheung, Daphne S.K.
4d789122-86c7-4ecb-881c-af510f070ce4
Chow, Meyrick C.M.
556afe83-e897-4a87-8b83-987f61a3ad02
Lee, Paul H.
02620eab-ae7f-4a1c-bad1-8a50e7e48951
Chien, Wai Tong
b060431b-1453-4064-a8b0-6c3d44bae8d1
Ho, Ken H.M., Hung, Maria S.Y., Zhang, Youjuan, Bai, Xue, Cheung, Daphne S.K., Chow, Meyrick C.M., Lee, Paul H. and Chien, Wai Tong
(2023)
The perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 109, , [104952].
(doi:10.1016/j.archger.2023.104952).
Abstract
Purpose: To explore older adults’ perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers (MDWs) and examine the correlation between older adult/MDW (O-M) relationship quality and loneliness of community-dwelling older adults. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, older adults living with MDWs were conveniently recruited from neighbourhood elderly centers in Hong Kong. Loneliness and O-M relationship quality were assessed by the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the mutuality scale, respectively. Older adults’ demographic and functional characteristics, and MDW's nationality, spoken language and years of service in the dyad were also collected. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the contributions of 1) demographic variables and functional status, 2) MDW characteristics, 3) perceived social network and 4) perceived O-M relationship quality on loneliness. Results: The 178 participants [mean age 83.44 (SD 7.05 years); 155 (87.1%) women and 23 men (22.9%)] were socially lonely (1.07 ± 1.15) and close to being lonely overall (1.90 ± 1.68), and emotionally (0.84 ± 0.97). The mean O-M relationship quality was poor (1.42 ± 0.79), which was significantly correlated with overall (β = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.01, P value = 0.045), and social (β= -0.24, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.01, P value = 0.04) loneliness, but not significantly correlated to emotional loneliness. Conclusion: Better perceived O-M relationship quality is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among older adults. Strategies to improve O-M relationship quality may alleviate loneliness among older adults.
Text
1-s2.0-S0167494323000328-main
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 31 January 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 3 February 2023
Published date: 1 June 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials disclosed in this article. This study was funded by the Faculty Development Scheme, Research Grant Council, Hong Kong SAR, China (FDS, RGC Ref. No.: UGC/FDS/H01/20).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
Keywords:
Loneliness, Migrant domestic workers, Mutuality, Older adults, Relationship quality, Social support, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Loneliness/psychology, Independent Living, Male, Emotions, Transients and Migrants, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Aged
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 480725
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/480725
ISSN: 0167-4943
PURE UUID: 48dd3299-ff17-4756-b67a-b0e8716724e3
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 08 Aug 2023 16:56
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:09
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Ken H.M. Ho
Author:
Maria S.Y. Hung
Author:
Youjuan Zhang
Author:
Xue Bai
Author:
Daphne S.K. Cheung
Author:
Meyrick C.M. Chow
Author:
Paul H. Lee
Author:
Wai Tong Chien
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics