Social Determinants and Disparities in Active Aging Among Older Taiwanese

Hui-Chuan Hsu, Jersey Liang, Dih-Ling Luh, Chen-Fen Chen and Ying-Wei Wang
Additional contact information
Hui-Chuan Hsu: School of Public Health, Research Center of Health Equity, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing St., Taipei City 11031, Taiwan
Jersey Liang: School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 500 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Dih-Ling Luh: School of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, No.110, Sec.1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung City 40201, Taiwan
Chen-Fen Chen: Department of Social Welfare, Chinese Culture University, No.55, Hwa-Kang Road, Yang-Ming Shan, Taipei City 11114, Taiwan
Ying-Wei Wang: Ministry of Health and Welfare, No.36, Tacheng St., Taipei City 10341, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: This study assesses equity in active aging across social determinants among older Taiwanese. The data were collected from face-to-face interviews with adults aged 55 years or more in Taiwan in 2017 ( n = 738). A total of 30 individual-level Taiwan active aging indicators were chosen, and the relationship between social determinants and active aging indicators were analyzed by logistic regression models. Women were more likely to participate in volunteering and other social groups and in lifelong learning activities, whereas men were more likely to be employed, to engage in physical activity, to feel safe from violence, and to use preventive care. Higher education was related to higher employment, social participation, independent living, lifelong learning, and a lower likelihood of poverty and severe cognitive impairment. Those living in rural areas were more likely to be employed, perform physical activity, feel physically safe, have better mental well-being, and have higher social respect and social integration ratings, whereas living in urban areas was related to greater access to medical care, owning assets, less severe cognitive impairment, greater likelihood of using information and communications technology, higher level of education, and higher access to convenient transportation. The significant disparities that exist in active aging may suggest inequality.

Keywords: active aging; equity; health inequality; older adults; old-age policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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