A study published in January in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine reported that several groups of Asian American seniors had significantly lower life satisfaction and access to social and emotional support compared with elders of other races.
The study is based on 2018 California survey data, including a sample size of nearly 8,200 people—all ages 65 and older, including Chinese, Korean, Filipino and Vietnamese descendants. South Asians were not included in the analysis because their sample size in the study was too small.
Only 54 percent of Asian American seniors surveyed said they were satisfied with their lives, compared to 80 percent of respondents of other races and ethnicities. Likewise, 56 percent of Asian American seniors said they usually or always get the social and emotional support they need, compared to 80 percent of those in other groups. Among the AAPI communities, South Korean elders reported the lowest number at 40%.
The survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, social isolation and loneliness among older adults may have contributed to lower life satisfaction.
A new report from the Asian American Federation finds that 75 percent of older Asian Americans in New York are afraid to leave their homes due to an increase in anti-Asian hate incidents.
