Citation

Hu YH. J. Cross-Cult. Gerontol. 1995; 10(3): 199-217.

Affiliation

Graduate Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang-ming University, Taipei, Taiwan ROC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00972240

PMID

24389837

Abstract

The 'three generation residence' and children's enormous support for the elderly in Asian countries has been viewed as a cultural asset in current international discourse on elderly care. The study uses suicide rates to challenge this view. The results indicate that suicide data, especially from Taiwan, are consistent with the counter argument that Asian elderly are currently very vulnerable in their socially constructed total dependence on children - actually sons and daughters-in-law. The nature of the culturally and politically produced powerful myth of the three generation family in modern Asian countries is also discussed.

Language: en