Globalization and Population Aging:  Realities for Families

Jean Pearson Scott

Department of Human Development & Family Studies

Texas Tech University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify common and differentiating themes in newspaper articles that reflected the influences of globalization and population aging on families and their older members.  All countries are experiencing unprecedented population aging and globalization, however, the stage of economic development, cultural values and history, and present demographics combine to bring different challenges and opportunities to the attention of family members, communities, societal leaders, and policymakers.  Media, particularly newspapers, are a forum for identifying and describing these issues and news events.  News articles from newspapers in three countries; Ireland , Korea , and Kenya were searched for relevant articles.  Each article identified from the last five years was rated according to type of article (news, feature, opinion/editorial), topic (long-term care, intergenerational relationships, etc.), tone, accuracy/bias with respect to aging stereotypes, and cultural values conveyed.  Results are discussed in terms of common themes, differences in thematic content, and implications for families.

Introduction

Population aging is occurring worldwide at unprecedented rates.  The pace of population aging varies from country to country, yet all are anticipating older population profiles that will have dramatic implications for families, intergenerational relationships, and society as a whole.  Ireland , for example, is an industrialized country, with the lowest proportion of older citizens (11%) of the European Union (EU) countries, yet demographers anticipate an older demographic profile with the increased longevity of the baby boom cohorts and lower fertility rates (Botman & Iakova, 2007).  With Ireland ’s strong economic growth and its health, social services, and political infrastructure in place, the increasing needs of older adults can be addressed by looking to changes and redirecting resources within the existing infrastructure (Botman & Iakova).

Developing countries, on the other hand, are beginning to be dually impacted by globalization and population aging.   Despite the lack of or limited economic, political, and social service infrastructures, by the year 2025, 70 percent of the world’s older population will live in developing countries (Sykes, 2006; United Nations, 2002). Many countries on the African continent such as Kenya will be building its economic and social infrastructures at the same time that resources for greater numbers of older adults will be needed (Browne & Braun, 2008; Clarfield, Bergman, & Cane, 2001).

            Societal and family responses to the aging of the population are different depending upon the history, economic realities, and religious and cultural values of regions.  With respect to Asian countries, Confucian values of respect and care for elders and preference for sons create different tensions and meanings for families who will have more elderly family members, fewer working age members, and increased numbers of women in the labor force (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2005; Yap, Thang, & Traphagan, 2005).  Additionally, the impact of globalization is reflected in the greater numbers of working age family members who migrate to urban areas for jobs often leaving their elderly parents without the in-home care that was assumed in Asian culture.  Adding to the reduced number of elderly Asians living with adult sons, is the increasing inability of adult children to financially support elderly parents ( Yap , et al.).    

Given these unprecedented global changes, the following questions guided the present study:   From a macro level perspective, what issues related to population aging and family life are reported in newspapers from countries with distinctive cultural, modernization, social and political contexts?  What are the themes and content of selected news articles?  What differences and similarities are identified in comparing news articles from countries ( Ireland , Kenya , and Korea ) that are being differentially influenced by globalization and population aging? 

A content analysis was conducted of articles from the daily and weekly e-mail reports of “Current Awareness in Aging Research,” distributed on a listserv sponsored by the Center for Demography of Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison .   Links to newspaper articles and government reports (English versions) are listed by country.  A sample of articles from the last three years representing industrialized countries (e.g. Ireland , Italy , Japan ) and developing countries (e.g. Nigeria , Kenya ) were classified by topic/issue.  A more in-depth analysis of newspaper articles from Ireland , Kenya , and Korea was conducted going back five years.  These articles were coded according to a) type of article (news, feature, opinion/editorial), b)  topic/theme (e.g. long-term care, intergenerational relationships), c) tone, d) accuracy/bias with respect to aging stereotypes, and e) cultural values conveyed.  Prominent content areas were pension reform, social service needs, tax reform, long-term care, health, elder care, and successful aging.  Positive images of aging received news attention as well as problems faced by older adults their family members.  Policy implications for families and their older members are discussed.

References

Botman, D., & Iakova, D.  (2007, Oct.).  Policy challenges of population aging in Ireland . International Monetary Fund, working paper.  Retrieved on May 18, 2008.

Browne, C. V., & Braun, K .L. (2008).  Globalization, women’s migration, and the long -term care workforce.  The Gerontologist, 48, 16-24.

Clarfield, A. M., Bergman, H., & Cane, R. (2001).  Fragmentation of care for frail older people:  An international problem.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,  49, 1714-1721.

Hooyman, N. R., & Kiyak, H. A. (2005).  Social gerontology:  A multidisciplinary perspective (7^th ed.).  Boston : Pearson Allyn & Bacon.           

Sykes, J. T. (2006).  Global aging aspirations confront cultural and regional realities.  The  Gerontologist, 46, 555-558.

United Nations (2002).  World population ageing 1950-2050.  New York : United  Nations.

Yapm M.T., Thang, L. L., & Traphagan, J.W. (2005).  Introduction:  Aging in Asia –perennial concerns on support and caring for the old.  Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 20, 257-267.