Research Seminar - Ageing Well in a Foreign Land: Identity, Social Connectedness and Well-being

Date: 28 April, 2017
Time: 3pm-4pm
Location: Room 601, Michie Building (#9)

Abstract

Provision of care for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is increasing as a sizable population worldwide is, and will be, ageing outside their heritage culture. Research shows that older people ageing in a foreign land experience a greater level of social isolation due to the dual challenge of dealing with loss of cultural connectedness over and above ageing. Yet, how best to turn social isolation into social connectedness is far from clear. This presentation is based on the preliminary findings from an ARC Linkage project (2016-2019; Partner Organisation: Diversicare/ECCQ), which aims to understand how older people from diverse backgrounds adjust socially and culturally to living in Australia and answer some key questions about the factors that contribute to a sense of social isolation and low psychological well-being.

Acknowledgment: This project is supported by the Australian Research Council (LP160100374). We also acknowledge the support of the partner organisation, Diversicare.

Presenter’s Bio

Shuang Liu is an Associate Professor at the School of Communication and Arts. She researches and publishes in the areas of immigration, multiculturalism, acculturation, intercultural conflicts, ageing migrants, and intergroup relations. She also researches the media effect on how people perceive themselves, how they think they are perceived by others, and how self- and other perceptions interact with each other to influence attitudes, behaviours, and intergroup relations.