Ageing as older Chinese immigrants in Europe—a qualitative systematic literature review considering perspectives from older immigrants, relatives, and professionals

Hongxuan Xu; Hongxuan Xu; Sigrid Stjernswärd; Stinne Glasdam; Ragnhild Julante Andersen Gulestø; Cong Fu

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492356

Frontiers in Public Health (Apr 2025)

Ageing as older Chinese immigrants in Europe—a qualitative systematic literature review considering perspectives from older immigrants, relatives, and professionals

Hongxuan Xu,
Hongxuan Xu,
Sigrid Stjernswärd,
Stinne Glasdam,
Ragnhild Julante Andersen Gulestø,
Cong Fu

Affiliations

Hongxuan Xu: Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Hongxuan Xu: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Sigrid Stjernswärd: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Stinne Glasdam: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Ragnhild Julante Andersen Gulestø: Faculty of Health Science, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
Cong Fu: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492356
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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IntroductionAs the Chinese immigrant population in European countries ages, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese immigrants’ ageing processes from a life course perspective by recognising the complex interactions between social, cultural, and institutional constructs and dynamics. This article aimed at exploring how older Chinese immigrants in Europe handle everyday lives in respect to ageing from the perspectives of older Chinese immigrants, their relatives, and health/social care professionals.MethodsThe study is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023455411), and the PRISMA 2020 checklist guided the study. A qualitative systematic review was conducted through searches in the databases CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Medline/PubMed, SocINDEX, Web of Science, and pearl search in Scopus (last search 3 September, 2023). Inclusion criteria were: (1) Studies about Chinese immigrants’ everyday lives, living, and ageing, or studies focusing on their use of health/social care services, (2) Perspectives of Chinese immigrants in Europe, their relatives, and related health/social care professionals, (3) Qualitative peer- reviewed studies published in English, and (4) publications from 2000–2023. The initial search retrieved 842 publications. Seventeen publications were included and analysed through a thematic analysis.ResultsThe results presented the included studies’ characteristics and four themes: Everyday life as an older adult mirrored the life lived, Work and working conditions as significant for ageing, Cultural complexes that shape social identities, Immigrants’ social position as significant for encounters with health and social care professionals.DiscussionOlder Chinese immigrants’ everyday lives related to ageing were not only dynamically influenced by social, interpersonal, and institutional factors accumulated in their life trajectories, but reflected the process of constructing social and cultural identity in their new homeland. Future policies should promote culturally responsive healthcare, social services, and employment support to address the unique ageing experiences of older Chinese immigrants.Systematic review registrationsThe systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO and the registration number is CRD42023455411.

Published in Frontiers in Public Health

ISSN: 2296-2565 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health

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