Sequential bilingual heritage children's L1 attrition in lexical retrieval: Age of acquisition versus language experience

This study investigated the unresolved issue of potential sources of heritage language attrition. To test contributing effects of three learner variables – age of second language acquisition, length of residence, and language input – on heritage children's lexical retrieval accuracy and speed, we conducted a real-time word naming task with 68 children (age 11–14 years) living in South Korea who spoke either Chinese or Russian as a heritage language. Results of regression analyses showed that the participants were less accurate and slower in naming target words in their heritage language as their length of residence in Korea and the amount of Korean input increased. The age of Korean acquisition did not significantly influence their performance. These findings support the claim that heritage speakers’ language experience is a more reliable predictor of first language attrition than age of acquisition. We discuss these findings in light of different approaches to explaining language attrition.

Association Between Length of Residence in the U.S. and Insurance Coverage Within U.S. Chinese Older Adults

Barriers to affordable insurance may worsen disparities among underserved populations. Immigrants with <5 years of residence are not eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are potentially without affordable alternatives. This study aims to look at the relationship between length of residence in the U.S. and insurance coverage within U.S. Chinese older adults ages 65+.This study used data from a representative sample of 2,365 community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults age 65+. The association between length in the U.S. (<5, 6-10, 10+) and insurance status was analyzed using chi squared test and logistic regressions. Within this sample, 58 (2.78%) participants had coverage outside Medicare and Medicaid, with 279 participants reporting no coverage. The vast majority of participants living in the U.S. <5 years had no insurance (81.48%). In a fully adjusted model, participants who were older and female were positively associated with having insurance coverage (OR:1.11 [1.07,1.15] and OR:1.29 [0.88,1.90]). Conversely, both living in the U.S. <5 years (OR:0.009 [0.006, 0.014]),and between 5-10 years (OR:1.20 [0.13,0.30]) were negatively associated with insurance coverage. When including coverage outside of Medicaid and Medicare, residence <5 years and 5-10 years were still negatively associated with insurance coverage ((OR:0.13 [0.009,0.02]), and (OR:0.19 [0.13,0.30])). Vulnerable populations such as older immigrants may not have access to insurance outside of public options, making a 5-year waiting period an additional barrier to quality health care.

Aging out of Place: Factors Related to Quality of Life Among Older Refugees in the United States

Refugees flee their home countries, migrating to countries such as the US for safety. The psychological distress they experience may compromise their adaptation and well-being. However, little is known about quality of life among aging refugees who migrate to the US as adults, and in particular whether quality of life varies among refugees by sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, country of origin, and length of residence. Moreover, limited research exists examining the role of social connectedness for aging refugees’s quality of life. The current study explores sociodemographic and social connection factors associated with quality of life among aging refugees (N = 108; aged 50+). Refugees from Bhutan, Burundi, and Somalia were recruited from a Midwestern small city to complete an in-depth survey assessing social factors and well-being. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that females, older individuals, and African refugees reported lower quality of life, while length of residence was not associated with quality of life. When controlling for sociodemographic factors, greater social integration and lower loneliness were significantly associated with higher quality of life. There was also a significant interaction between loneliness and sex in predicting quality of life, indicating that greater loneliness was associated with reduced quality of life for women but not men. Study findings will be discussed in light of cultural variations within refugee groups and with the goal of highlighting ways to best support aging refugees’ well-being and develop social programs that can effectively cater to issues of aging among refugees.

A Great Wall? Migration, Political Socialisation and Political Participation among Chinese in New Zealand

<p>Chinese political participation is low by comparison with other migrant and ethnic groups despite high socioeconomic status. This suggests that other barriers to participation are present among this group. This study examines how pre- and post-migration political socialisation affect the electoral participation of Chinese in New Zealand. Fifteen one-on-one, in-depth interviews allowed me to consider the relationship between both length of residence and socialisation in a democratic versus non-democratic regime and electoral participation among this sample. In this case, analysis of each participant’s migration and political participation experiences revealed no correlation between either length of residence and socialisation in a democratic versus non-democratic regime and electoral participation, although it highlighted the significance of demographic factors such as age and life-cycle, and social capital and political interest for electoral participation. Few studies have focused on Chinese migrant political participation specifically in New Zealand and even fewer on the subject of Chinese electoral participation. However, understanding what drives and inhibits electoral participation among this group is both important for the development of New Zealand’s Asia-Pacific identity and ultimately as an indicator of the health of democracy in New Zealand.</p>

A Great Wall? Migration, Political Socialisation and Political Participation among Chinese in New Zealand

<p>Chinese political participation is low by comparison with other migrant and ethnic groups despite high socioeconomic status. This suggests that other barriers to participation are present among this group. This study examines how pre- and post-migration political socialisation affect the electoral participation of Chinese in New Zealand. Fifteen one-on-one, in-depth interviews allowed me to consider the relationship between both length of residence and socialisation in a democratic versus non-democratic regime and electoral participation among this sample. In this case, analysis of each participant’s migration and political participation experiences revealed no correlation between either length of residence and socialisation in a democratic versus non-democratic regime and electoral participation, although it highlighted the significance of demographic factors such as age and life-cycle, and social capital and political interest for electoral participation. Few studies have focused on Chinese migrant political participation specifically in New Zealand and even fewer on the subject of Chinese electoral participation. However, understanding what drives and inhibits electoral participation among this group is both important for the development of New Zealand’s Asia-Pacific identity and ultimately as an indicator of the health of democracy in New Zealand.</p>

Twenty Years of Providing Free Plants in An Urban New Zealand Setting: What Affects Community Participation and Planting Success?

<p>An urban greening programme in Wellington, New Zealand providing free plants to city residents was evaluated with the following objectives: 1. To assess the levels of plant survival after five, ten, and fifteen years and determine factors contributing to observed survival; 2. To investigate factors influencing participation in the programme; 3. To quantify the some of the socioeconomic factors relating to programme participants and environmental factors relating to sites. Data were collected from a combination of council records, site surveys and postal questionnaire surveys. The study found that plant survival was generally poor, but was mainly influenced by indigeneity of the plants. Contrary to many theories of exotic invasiveness, New Zealand native plants were 4.3 times more likely to survive than exotic plants. Site based effects were not found to influence survival significantly; nor were specific plant traits, or year of planting. A small sample of these sites was matched to questionnaire responses and it was found that length of residence by programme participants increased the performance of the best model indigeneity, indicating that increasing length of residence was a predictor of better survival of plantings. The questionnaire respondents included both those who had participated in the programme and those who had not. The sample population, however, was quite distinct from the general population of the region, being older, wealthier, having higher levels of education, and twice as likely to own their own home. As suggested by previous research looking at the effects of socioeconomic factors on urban forestry or urban greening participation was shown in this study to be mainly affected by the age of the respondent, which increased the odds of participation by 200% between the youngest and oldest age groups. This socioeconomic model was improved when two factors were included: the number of trees outside their property, and, horticultural knowledge of the participant. This indicates that participants might be more motivated by personal interest in horticulture, than in improving environmental conditions.</p>