Effects of social support and cultural capital on global meaning among bereaved elders in rural China: A hierarchical linear analysis

• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22162
• Publication Date: 2019-01-29T06:20:14Z
• Authors: Haimin Pan
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Male; Rural Population; China; 05 social sciences; 1. No poverty; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Income; Linear Models; Humans; Social Capital; Female; Interpersonal Relations; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Aged; Bereavement

AbstractThis study explored the context effect in the relationship between capital (income, social support, and cultural capital) and changes in global meaning. We interviewed a sample of 352 bereaved Chinese elders from 18 communities in rural China and conducted hierarchical linear modeling for data analysis. The effects of social support and cultural capital in terms of traditional Chinese culture on changes in global meaning differed across communities. Social support earned its credit in buffering function against bereavement, whereas traditional Chinese culture posed a risk of elevating negative global meaning. More social support and positive global meaning are reliable predictors for enhancing the psychological health of bereaved elders.