A Stratified Cross Section of Resilience in Older Taiwanese Men and Women

Abstract

To determine if gender impacts associations between social relationships, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral factors with resilience among older Taiwanese adults. The data were obtained from a National Mental Health Survey conducted in Taiwan. The sample was created using multistage proportional probability. A questionnaire was used to interview participants at their homes. Study participants were ≥65 years. Predictor variables and the outcome, resilience, were clearly defined followed by statistical analysis. High- and low-resilience outcomes of older adults were determined based on the median value of the Friborg’s Resilience Scale. An independent-sample t test, χ², and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine predictors for resilience which were then stratified by gender. Older women were less likely to be resilient than older men. Social relationships, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral factors had both similar and differential impacts on resilience when stratified for gender. The relationships between gender, socioeconomics, health, and social and behavioral factors with resilience provide unique insights into how culture shapes trends in data.