Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes older Chinese adults have about engaging in counseling-based services as measured by a fear of intimacy with helping professionals scale. Data were collected from 150 older adults living in Chongqing, China. Information from this study will be helpful in developing effective strategies for the provision of social work services in China. In contrast with previous research, attitudes about intimacy with helping professionals varied and were normally distributed. Significant predictors of fear of intimacy were level of trust, mental health stigma, family support and friend support. Surprisingly, family and friend support had opposite associations with fear of intimacy. Family support was related to higher fear and friend support to lower fear. The cultural implications of these findings for researchers and social workers working with elderly Chinese clients are discussed.
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The authors would like to thank Provost Jo Allen at Widener University and Richard Tan of the Pacific Millennium Holding Corporation, China, for their support of this research.
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Witt, H., Poulin, J., Ingersoll, T. et al. Older Chinese Adults’ Fear of Intimacy with Helping Professionals. J Cross Cult Gerontol 26, 71–83 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-010-9132-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-010-9132-8