The Influence of Social Isolation and Other Risk Factors on Older African Immigrants' Emotional Well-Being

dc.contributor.advisorAdamek, Margaret
dc.contributor.authorAdeniji, Dolapo Omolola
dc.contributor.otherHong, Michin
dc.contributor.otherGentle-Genitty, Carolyn
dc.contributor.otherHuber, Lesa
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-23T15:38:56Z
dc.date.available2022-08-23T15:38:56Z
dc.date.issued2022-08
dc.degree.date2022en_US
dc.degree.discipline
dc.degree.grantorIndiana Universityen_US
dc.degree.levelPh.D.en_US
dc.descriptionIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)en_US
dc.description.abstractSocial isolation has been documented as a significant challenge for older adults, including those who are immigrants. The conventional wisdom blames social isolation among older immigrant adults on language barriers, living arrangements, and age at migration, however, this does not allow for analytical clarity on how social isolation interacts with other important risk factors to influence emotional well-being among older African immigrants. This study offers an important contribution to the existing knowledge by examining how social isolation and other risk factors interact to impact emotional well-being among older African immigrants. It uses life course theory, acculturation theory, resilience theory, and cumulative risk theory to identify the relevant stressors or risk factors such as living arrangements, financial satisfaction, acculturation predictors, transportation, and grandchild care. A mixed-methods approach integrating quantitative and qualitative research methods was used in the study. For the collection of quantitative data, 163 participants aged 60 and over completed an online or mailed survey. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the quantitative data. Findings showed that ethnic social relations and living arrangements had a unique contribution to the social isolation of the participants. Also, social isolation, ethnic social relations, and financial satisfaction significantly influenced the emotional well-being of study participants. For the study’s qualitative data, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 11 participants, age 63-79, by telephone. Five major themes were generated from the data using a thematic analysis approach, which included (a) minimal social engagement outside of the home, (b) barriers to social engagement, (c) satisfaction with finances, (d) fewer socialization consequences, and (e) coping strategies. The overall finding showed that the participants lacked social engagement outside of the home, which negatively affected their emotional well-being. Implications for social work practice and policy as well as recommendations were emphasized in the study.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1805/29847
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2/2991
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectcoping strategiesen_US
dc.subjectemotional well-beingen_US
dc.subjectolder African immigrantsen_US
dc.subjectresilienceen_US
dc.subjectrisk factorsen_US
dc.subjectsocial isolationen_US
dc.titleThe Influence of Social Isolation and Other Risk Factors on Older African Immigrants' Emotional Well-Beingen_US
dc.typeThesis
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Adeniji_iupui_0104D_10606.pdf
Size:
1.85 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.99 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: