Back to home pageThailand (Bangkok) ASIA-PACIFIC POPULATION JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 1992 - VOLUME 7, NUMBER 3 93.85.01 - English - John KNODEL, Population Studies Centre, University of Michigan, 1225 South University Avenue, Ann Arbon, Michigan (U.S.A.), and Nibhon DEBAVALYA, Population Division, ESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200 (Thailand) Social and Economic Support Systems for the Elderly in Asia: An Introduction (p. 5-12) This introduction provides an overview of the issues related to the rapid increase in the number of elderly in some Asian countries. It describes how the articles contained in this special issue of the Journal demonstrate that the familial system of support for the elderly has persisted despite major social and economic change. It also briefly highlights the findings of the country studies. (ASIA, AGEING) 93.85.02 - English - Karen Oppenheim MASON, East-West Center's Program on Population, Honolulu, Hawaii (U.S.A.) Family Change and Support of the Elderly in Asia: What Do We Know? (p. 13-32) After outlining variations in traditional family systems in Asia, this article discusses likely impacts of urbanization, industrialization and migration on family structure and care of the elderly. Evidence about changing family support for the elderly in Asia is then reviewed. The article's main conclusion is that future changes in Asian countries and areas seem likely to erode traditional family-based systems of care for the elderly, even if the overall welfare of the elderly improves because of higher incomes. Problems faced by elderly women are likely to be especially acute and may require special policies to deal with them. (ASIA, AGEING, DEPENDENCY BURDEN) 93.85.03 - English - Jersey LIANG, Neal KRAUSE, Institute of Gerontology and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (U.S.A.), and Shengzu GU, Institute for Population Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei (China) Social Support among the Aged in Wuhan, China (p. 33-62) This study provides information on supportive social relations in a sample of 2,762 elderly people in Wuhan, China. The elderly concerned were found to be actively engaged in exchanges of social support with their families and kin. They not only receive assistance but also provide a substantial amount of help to others. These supportive ties were highly positive and satisfactory to the great majority of the respondents. Only moderate correlations were found among various dimensions of social support. These results underscore the multi-dimensional nature of social support and suggest that caution needs to be exercised in extrapolating interpersonal exchanges from social embeddedness. (CHINA, AGED, AGEING, DEPENDENCY BURDEN) 93.85.04 - English - Lita J. DOMINGO, Population Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City (Philippines), and John B. CASTERLIN, Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 (U.S.A.) Living Arrangements of the Filipino Elderly (p. 63-88) This article is likely the first comprehensive description of the living arrangements of the Filipino elderly based on nationally representative data. It finds that only a small fraction of the Filipino elderly are isolated from close kin; however, it is not certain that their living arrangements are favourable for their overall well-being. In many cases of co-residence, the flow of support is from the elderly parents to their children. The article raises several questions concerning social change in the Philippines that need to be answered in future research. (PHILIPPINES, AGED, AGEING, LIFE STYLES) 93.85.05 - English - Ik Ki KIM, Department of Sociology, Dongguk University, Seoul (Korea), and Ehn Hyun Choe, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, San 42-14, Bulgwang-dong, Eunpyung-ku, Seoul (Korea) Support Exchange Patterns of the Elderly in the Republic of Korea (p. 89-104) Owing to socio-economic development in the Republic of Korea and the country's success in reducing mortality and fertility, the proportion and number of elderly in the population is rapidly rising. Co-residence with adult children is the most important pattern of support for the elderly. But the elderly also contribute support in the form of financial and material assistance as well as services such as care of grandchildren. The article concludes that, because of the rapid increase in the absolute size of the elderly population, government services need to be expanded to assist in providing care for the elderly. (KOREA (REPUBLIC OF), AGEING) 93.85.06 - English - John KNODEL, Population Studies Centre, University of Michigan, 1225 South University Avenue, Ann Arbon, Michigan (U.S.A.), Napaporn CHAYOVAN and Siriwan SIRIBOON, Institute of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (Thailand) The Family Support System of Thai Elderly: An Overview (p. 105- 127) This study provides an overview of the familial system of support for the elderly as it currently exists in Thailand. The most prominent feature of the living arrangements of the Thai elderly is co-residence with an adult child. It finds that, despite rapid and substantial social and economic change over recent decades, the familial system of support seems to be largely intact. However, continued monitoring will be necessary to determine the nature and extent to which changes in living arrangements and other forms of familial support occur as well as their implications. (THAILAND, AGED, FAMILY LIFE, COHABITATION) 93.85.07 - English - Gary R. ANDREWS and Monique M. HENNINK, Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, SA 5042 (Australia) Preliminary Results of a Cross-national Study (p. 127-146) This article examines some of the findings from surveys carried out in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as part of a cross- national study of ageing sponsored by the World Health Organization. It finds that the majority of elderly in these countries live in households with their children and in many cases also with their grandchildren. The elderly also contribute significantly to household activities. In the future, the special needs of very old women will have to be addressed as it will be difficult for their children to meet those needs without assistance. (INDONESIA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, WHO, AGEING, AGED, COHABITATION, WOMEN)
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