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Associations between quality of relationships and life satisfaction of older mothers in Estonia, Germany, Russia and China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2015

JING WU ,
KAIRI KASEARU ,
AIRI VÄRNIK ,
LIINA-MAI TOODING  and
GISELA TROMMSDORFF
JING WU*
Affiliation:
Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Tallinn, Estonia.
KAIRI KASEARU
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia.
AIRI VÄRNIK
Affiliation:
Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Tallinn, Estonia. Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia. Institute of Social Work, Tallinn University, Estonia.
LIINA-MAI TOODING
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Work, Tallinn University, Estonia.
GISELA TROMMSDORFF
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Germany.
*
Address for correspondence: Jing Wu, Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Õie 39, Tallinn, 11615, Estonia E-mail: wujingsweet@gmail.com
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Abstract

The aim of the current study is to examine the associations between the quality of relationships and life satisfaction of older mothers in Estonia, Germany, Russia and the People's Republic of China, based on the assumptions of the Family Change Theory. The role of satisfaction with family life as the probable mediating factor is considered. Estonian older mothers reported the least admiration and intimacy in their relationships with their adult daughters, and the least satisfaction with family life compared to German, Russian and Chinese mothers. German older mothers perceived the most admiration from their adult daughters and were the most satisfied with both their family and general life. Russian older mothers were the least satisfied with their general life compared to their counterparts in Estonia, Germany and China. The results from the Structural Equation Modelling showed that the relationship between satisfaction with family life and general life satisfaction was statistically significant in all countries except Russia. The satisfaction with family life as a mediating factor might strengthen the positive and negative aspects of intergenerational relationships on the life satisfaction of older mothers. The findings indicated that the emotional closeness and intergenerational relationships in families during the process of transition and globalisation play an important role in the life satisfaction of older mothers in these four countries.

Keywords

quality of relationshipsatisfaction with family lifelife satisfactioncultureFamily Change TheoryStructural Equation Modelling
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 36 , Issue 6 , July 2016 , pp. 1272 - 1294
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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