title: Self-perceptions of aging across cultures: myth or reality?
abstract: This study attempted to correct the methodological shortcomings of previous studies by using semi-structured interviews to explore the differences and similarities of self-perceptions of aging and associated factors among Anglo Americans, Chinese Americans, and Chinese in Taiwan. Each of the three subgroups consisted of twenty middle- or lower-class female community residents who were sixty to seventy-five years of age. The results of both quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that all three subgroups had positive self-perceptions of aging, with Anglo Americans being most positive; Chinese Americans, the next; Chinese in Taiwan, the least. Correlates of self-perceptions of aging for each subgroup are presented. Implications for practice, policy, program development, and service delivery are also discussed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D013624:Taiwan; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology