Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2024, Gerontology

Background With economic growth and the diminishing influence of filial piety, the pattern of intergenerational exchange among older Chinese may shift from the traditional unidirectional pattern, where children solely support their parents, to a reciprocal pattern where older parents and adult children support each other. The challenges of old-age care, exacerbated by the one-child policy and an aging population, have become pressing issues for the government and families. Understanding the pattern of intergenerational exchange is crucial for developing old-age care policies and services that address the needs of the large aging population. Objective This study explores the pattern of intergenerational exchange within the Chinese context influenced by filial piety. It examines gender and socioeconomic status and discusses the characteristics of Chinese intergenerational exchange. Methodology The study uses secondary data from the 4th wave of the 2018 CHARLS, focusing on independent variables such as residence, socioeconomic status, intergenerational social frequency, and the gender of adult children. These factors are examined with four dependent variables measuring intergenerational exchange patterns: financial and grandchildren care support from older parents to children (downward transfers), and financial and caregiving support from adult children to older parents (upward transfer). The study employs binary logistic regression and linear regression analyses to obtain results. Results In examining upward or downward monetary transfers, rural older residents are less likely to receive financial transfers. When older parents provide grandchildren care, the likelihood of financial exchanges in both directions increases. Conversely, when older parents receive care from their children, monetary transfers in both directions decrease. Instrumental transfers between generations have mutually reinforcing relationships. Rural residents and older individuals with low (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Applebaum (Committee Chair); Scott Brown (Committee Member); Saruna Ghimire (Committee Member); Angela Curl (Committee Member) Subjects: Gerontology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Public Health

Asian-Americans and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) experience health and healthcare disparities compared to their white counterparts. In both communities, which are often jointly described as Asian-American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), college students represent a vulnerable subpopulation in regard to mental health outcomes and healthcare. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the mental health outcomes and experiences of Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students. This dissertation sought to evaluate how race, gender, and the intersection of the two affect the mental health outcomes and lived experiences of Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students. Three separate, but interconnected, studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods were completed. First, a secondary data analysis of the Healthy Minds dataset (2018-2019) provided a characterization of depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being outcomes for Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students across the United States. Second, a qualitative semi-structured interview study was conducted among Asian-American undergraduate students; this allowed me to explore and analyze their lived experiences of filial piety and how it intersected with mental health, race, gender, and other macro-level factors. Finally, a cross-sectional quantitative survey of Asian-American and white undergraduate students was launched. This survey was developed using survey input from research experts in public health, survey methodology, and/or Asian-American health and input from focus groups with Asian-American undergraduates. The survey collected information on filial piety and mental health to determine how race, gender, and the intersection of the two impacted filial piety, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. This research had three main conclusions. First, the mental health outcomes of AAPI undergraduate students are heterogenous. Differences between Asian-Amer (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mira Katz (Advisor); Daniel Strunk (Committee Member); Paul Reiter (Committee Member); Rebecca Andridge (Committee Member) Subjects: Asian American Studies; Gender; Health; Health Care; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Psychology; Public Health

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2020, Psychology

Studied more extensively in Western societies (e.g., the US), body image and its correlates in other cultures is less researched. When body image has been studied in other cultures, there is a tendency to utilize Western theories of body image to explain findings when localized perspectives may be more applicable in understanding body image. In particular, South Korea provides a unique context to examine body image given its flourishing plastic surgery industry, which is indicative of negative body image and acceptance of plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes. However, research exploring the association between body image and acceptance of plastic surgery along with sociocultural factors pertinent to South Korea that may help explain such an association is limited. The current study examined whether relevant sociocultural factors in South Korea, specifically fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and filial piety, serve as underlying mechanisms in the association between body image and acceptance of plastic surgery. College students in Seoul, South Korea (n = 227) completed self-report measures of body image (i.e., appearance evaluation and body areas satisfaction), FNE, filial piety, and acceptance of plastic surgery. Students who had plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes reported greater FNE and acceptance of plastic surgery than students who had no plastic surgery experience for cosmetic purposes. Moderated mediation analyses revealed significant total negative indirect effects of body image on acceptance of plastic surgery through FNE and filial piety as well as significant specific negative indirect effects of body image on acceptance of plastic surgery through FNE for students without plastic surgery experience for cosmetic purposes. No significant total or specific indirect effects were found for students with plastic surgery experience for cosmetic purposes. Findings from this study highlight the importance of understanding body image among South Koreans within t (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Vaishali Raval Ph.D. (Advisor); April Smith Ph.D. (Committee Member); Deborah Wiese Ph.D. (Committee Member); Lena Lee Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2018, Anthropology

Based on 18 months of fieldwork conducted in Dekyi, a matrilocal village in Phenpo County in Tibet Autonomous Region, China, this dissertation ethnographically examines the aging experiences of the elderly in the matrilocal family system amidst rapid socioeconomic transformation. This dissertation is one of the first few studies that present data on the matrilocal family system in Tibet. Despite the socioeconomic changes that tended to erode the care the elderly in patrilocal areas receive, the elderly in Dekyi have been spared some of the negative impacts induced by such changes. Especially revealing was that while only half of the Dekyi elderly had control over economic resources, all of the elderly were satisfied with the care they received from their co-residing children and children-in-law and were content with their situations. Villagers claimed that their fortunate lots were precisely due to their matrilocal practice in which they kept their daughters at home instead of sons. As a result of the matrilocal practice, the elderly would receive care from their own daughters, who were considered to be more caring than sons and daughters-in-law. The data collected lent support to this claim, but also revealed a more complex picture. That is, daughters' desired care was made possible through the protective mechanisms of the matrilocal family system that tended to foster women-headed and conflicts-free households. On the one hand, as household heads, the daughters controlled household income, which gave them economic power to provide for their parents materially and financially. On the other hand, the matrilocal households tended to have fewer family conflicts than the patrilocal households did due to the less pronounced parent- and son-in-law conflicts. As a result, the elderly in matrilocal households experienced harmony and security, which were essential to their psychological well-being. Moreover, friendly family relations enabled both daughters and sons-in-la (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Melvyen Goldstein (Committee Chair); Vanessa Hildebrand (Committee Member); Lihong Shi (Committee Member); Peter Yang (Committee Member) Subjects: Cultural Anthropology

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, 2016, Theology

The principal goal of this dissertation is to demonstrate that the Confucian interpretation of xiao (“filial piety”) provides a fruitful hermeneutical lens for Christology in two respects. Most immediately, I argue the early Confucian xiao is a salutary resource for understanding, appreciating, clarifying, and amending the Christology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, who gave profound importance to Christ's obedience in his thought. More generally, I argue the Confucian reading of xiao can help theologians enter into the mysteries of the Church's Christological dogmas and doctrines in new and expansive ways. Consequently, the main argument of the dissertation is that through Balthasar and the early Confucian tradition, we arrive at a rich and compelling orthodox account of Christ's filial love and obedience. After situating the dissertation's theological approach to incorporating Confucian philosophy in chapter 1, the dissertation develops two sets of studies. The first is devoted to examining and exploring Balthasar's Christology on its own terms. The second is similarly devoted to analyzing themes in the Confucian treatment of xiao on its own terms. The final chapter of the dissertation undertakes a theological synthesis of these two studies, showing how the combination of Balthasar's theological vision and the Confucian philosophical distinctions produce fruitful reflections on how Christ's filial obedience functions within and expresses his life as eternal Son.

Committee: William Portier Ph.D. (Advisor); G. Alexus McLeod Ph.D. (Committee Member); Peter Casarella Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jana Bennett Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dennis Doyle Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Comparative; Philosophy; Theology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2013, Population and Social Gerontology

Filial piety is a Confucian concept that structures traditional East Asian cultures and one's role in the family and society. Family dynamics are evolving as a result of globalization and shift in care for elders as well as children-rearing by East Asian families should be at the forefront of research. This pilot study of Korean families living in Thailand uses qualitative ethnographic research method. Data collection techniques combine snowball sampling of 5 informants, in-depth interviews and participant observations. Data collection took place in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand. This study analyzes the definition of filial piety, definition of dutiful child/son/daughter, practices by Koreans living in Thailand, and aspects of the Korean community in Thailand. Results of this comparative content analysis show differing definitions of filial piety and dutiful child/son/daughter, adapted practices, varying emphasis on celebration of traditional holidays, and surprising aspects of the Korean community living in Thailand.

Committee: Kanokwan Tharawan Ph.D (Advisor); Jennifer Kinney Ph.D (Committee Member); Chai Podhisita Ph.D (Committee Member); Bencha Yoddumnern-Attig Ph.D (Committee Member); Jiraporn Kespichayawattana Ph.D (Committee Member) Subjects: Cultural Anthropology; Gerontology; Sociology