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Culture, Aging, and Health

By

Course

University

Instructor

Due date
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Abstract

As observed in the heading, this paper will incorporate an interview of an elderly

participant who is not diagnosed with any health condition to help maintain the relevance of the

information collected on the assignment topic, Culture, Aging, and Health. This paper seeks to

evaluate the growth and aging of the individual, his culture, and the relationship between culture

and health. Additionally, a research section will discuss the identified culture and be used in a

comparative analysis with the Nigerian culture to spot the differences and similarities between

the two cultures.

Overview of Interviewee and Interview

This assignment focused on aging, culture, and health and their relationship based on

information obtained from an identified interviewee. Therefore, an interview was conducted with

a 69-year-old man whose initials are A.K. The man is in perfect health and does not suffer from

any chronic condition, as is required in the assignment guidelines. He is a married man and has

been for 31 years. He weighs 71 kg, and his height assessment illustrated 179.8 cm. The man

reports having no mental health condition diagnosed currently and in the past and generally

enjoyed a healthy life so far as he has not suffered from any mental or physical condition or

shown signs of chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension which he attributes to

his Asian, specifically Chinese culture in terms of maintaining a healthy body. He appears

slightly wrinkled, especially on the forehead and the eyes, and has gray hair and a beard.

Regarding his occupation, he retired nine years ago from an executive position in a

shipping family business which he now states is run by his daughter. She is the eldest of the

daughter among his two children. My connection with the interviewee is strictly professional

because his daughter is a friend of my family, and we got acquainted through a transactional

encounter in the shipping business. Therefore, there is no family relationship between the two of

us. This interview took place at his home at noon, as was agreed upon at the request of the

interview. Finally, the interview took approximately 45 minutes of the time spent explaining

Chinese culture.

General Assessment

Aging is a natural process that happens to everyone. From the moment you are born, your

body starts to get older. The rate of aging varies from person to person, as well as what type of

lifestyle you lead. Some people seem to age faster than others, while others seem to age more
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slowly. As people age, they often face several signs, including pigmentation and discoloration on

the skin, the development of wrinkles, and skin sagging depending on aging. One of the observed

and expected signs of aging is skin wrinkles. As people age, the skin loses its elasticity and

becomes thinner and less able to hold on to facial tissues. This makes it more prone to wrinkling

and sagging. Thus, at 69 years, this is a joint presentation as the onset of aging initiates in some

people, just like A.K. Another sign of aging observed in the 69-year-old is gray hair. In essence,

gray hair results from a gradual loss of melanin, which helps protect your skin from the sun's

harmful rays by absorbing ultraviolet light. One might notice this during summer when their hair

color brightens from exposure to the sun.

Moreover, A.K. was also observed to have skin that appeared and felt rough, a common

occurrence in aging people. For example, if someone always has smooth skin, it is easy to notice

their skin's texture changing as they age. In addition, the interviewee appeared to have wrinkles

and some discoloration on the skin due to loss of elasticity, which means wrinkles will start

forming more quickly and more deeply than they were initially. In most cases, it is also

important to note that the latter is associated with disease development and progression. Thus,

some medical tests would be necessary for the follow-up health assessments.

On the other hand, some of the symptoms A.K reported experiencing were unintended

weight loss and some instances of forgetfulness, like having a challenge in remembering some

names of people. In terms of weight loss, it has been researched to be expected because as people

age, their metabolism slows down due to changes in hormone levels and other factors like stress,

which may influence appetite changes over time. Forgetfulness, as well as poor concentration

skills due to fatigue levels caused by chronic ailments like arthritis pain or joint stiffness in the
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body may lead to inflammation inside the brain which may affect cognitive function such as

attention span and concentration levels

Regarding daily activities, the interviewee reported being retired but still had some

strength to engage in different but fewer activities. He reported undertaking some exercises every

day for a few minutes than before. He does not engage in heavy activities because he fears they

might initiate a back problem. After all, an accident had been involved in his youthful years.

Besides this, he can drive himself and generally out of other activities.

As mentioned earlier, the man is retired from a family business. Therefore, to satisfy his

basic needs, including shelter, food, and clothing, the interviewee uses some of his pension

money while also fulfilling his needs through kinship and socialization. He started to be a father

and a spouse. Through kinships, he can satisfy food needs as he is well-fed and does not go a day

without eating. He also mentions that he does things with his wife and friends and socializes with

others to get productive information about healthy living, nutritious eating habits, and hygienic

practices, which all satisfy basic needs (Chen et al., 2020). The environment is favorable as he is

a former executive and still a business member in the background as an owner. Therefore, a

healthy environment stimulates peace and well-being while providing enough money to maintain

basic needs, including checkups for the back, bones, and general health.

Erikson's theory of social growth development examines the interactions between an

individual and his or her environment. This theory can be applied to the study of age, mainly as it

has been used to study the aging process (Orenstein, 2022). The theory can be applied to a 69-

year-old who has reached this age and is experiencing life events that are different from those

experienced by younger individuals. The identified stage of Erikson's theory of social growth

development in the interviewee is stage eight, which is also called integrity versus despair. This
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stage is the most desired and yet can be the most devastating stage where one achieves integrity,

meaning that they can maintain their identity and trust in themselves majorly because they can

reflect on their lives harmoniously and feel the pride of achieving things in life (Orenstein,

2022).

The interviewee achieved this stage by always keeping a positive attitude and

demonstrating pride because of his achievements throughout his career. Throughout the

interview, it was noted that the interviewee kept reflecting on his tenure as the leader of the

business and regularly spoke of his success, especially when we were discussing the culture and

how he was able to make it in a different culture that is completely and entirely different and the

challenges he overcame. Therefore, it was evident that he is in the integrity stage, in stage 8, and

not despairing as he has had a successful career (Orenstein, 2022).

Cultural Assessment

The interviewee is a member of the Asian American population, specifically of Chinese

ethnicity. Therefore, this ethnicity has been associated with and categorized as the yellow race.

The yellow race is a term used and is not advised nor encouraged as it is racist to refer to people

of East Asian descent. The term "yellow" refers to the skin tone of most East Asians, which can

range from light tan to dark brown. For this reason, Chinese are often classified in this group.

The interviewee and his family have maintained their relation and link to their customs,

including religion, as he stated to be in Taoism religion.

Regarding his gender roles, he stated to be strictly adherent to Taoism. In essence, as the

older male in the family, he is the one who protects and supports the entire family and has been

fulfilling this role ever since he committed to marriage. He stated that elders are seen as the

leaders of their families, and they take on these roles for the benefit of all family members. They
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also have an essential role in teaching their sons how to live successful life in society. They work

hard to ensure that their sons know what it means to be a good member of society and how to

make good decisions. In this regard, he acknowledged spending most of the time with his son,

the last born, through which he taught him about being a man and an honorable man in the

family and society.

His lifestyle revolves around his religion, Taoism. The Taoist lifestyle is a way of life

that emphasizes health, balance, and harmony with the natural world. Everyone can practice this

way of life, but it is essential for people new to practicing Taoism. It focuses on maintaining

good health so you can live a long and healthy life. In this context, he states he has maintained a

healthy BMI despite his age because he has followed the guidelines stipulated in the religion as

described above. Additionally, he has avoided eating foods high in fat and sugar. He has

practiced drinking plenty of water daily, getting enough exercise each day, taking vitamins

regularly, and doing other things to help keep his body healthy, like regular check-ups.

Based on the assessment tool, the interviewee has always exercised daily and exercised

last the morning of the interview. However, he could not recall the time he had a self-exam for

the testicular because most of the time, he had hospital visits, numerous exams were done, and

he did not find the need for such a test. Additionally, the last time he had sunscreen was during a

visit to Qatar, where he had gone with his family for a vacation. However, guided by his beliefs

in Taoism, the last time he had been immunized against the flu was the last season, as he

believed that it was essential to prevent such diseases rather than cure them.

Research

As identified earlier in the introduction, the interviewee is of Asian American ethnicity.

As has been identified in other research, Asians, especially the Chinese, are rich in culture. One
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of their beliefs is religion which plays a crucial role in determining how people conduct

themselves and what practices they should follow. Chinese religion has always been among the

elements with the most effects on the health of older adults and, generally, on all people

(Mohamad et al., 2019). In essence, Chinese people pay attention to their spiritual well-being by

engaging in religious practices such as meditation or prayer. These activities help them to relax

and release stress, which also helps them stay healthy as they age. Additionally, in this culture,

many older people still believe in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is based on the

theory that an imbalance in the body's energy system causes illness (Mohamad et al., 2019). This

belief is reflected in how they treat their bodies by exercising regularly and engaging in other

activities that help balance their energy systems.

According to Asian culture, the elderly are respected and valued, which is associated with

their importance in the family (Mohamad et al., 2019). They play an essential role in society,

providing care and guidance to the younger generations. In Asian culture, the elderly are

generally considered wise and capable of guiding their children. They are also respected for their

knowledge of ancient traditions and customs, which can be passed down from generation to

generation through oral tradition (Mohamad et al., 2019). The elderly also have a solid social

network in large families, which helps them support their family members as they age.

This culture believes in maintaining health and caring for self and others. It is a culture

that promotes the idea of preventive medicine, which involves people taking care of themselves

so that they may care for others (Mohamad et al., 2019). The people in this culture are known for

their strong work ethics, which means the civilized will follow doctors' orders for them to get

better. However, they firmly believe in the power of herbal remedies, which is why they continue

to use them even though modern medicine has proven effective in treating diseases safely. It is
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important to note that not all from this culture strongly believe in and practice herbal medicine.

However, it is a belief for most people in the culture, especially those who have spent the better

part of their lives in their home countries or those brought up in families with strong beliefs in

the approach (Mohamad et al., 2019). They also believe in the power of acupuncture, an

alternative medication that involves inserting thin needles into the body to treat pain, stress, and

other health issues by stimulating points on the body's meridian system (Chen et al., 2020).

Asian people value family above all else, so they tend to focus on the health and well-

being of their loved ones rather than their health. They also tend to prefer traditional medicine

over modern medicine because it offers more holistic approaches to treatment, which can be

effective with less risk than conventional methods may entail (Mohamad et al., 2019).

Specifically, the elderly with the perceived experience are among the people with vast

knowledge about herbal medicines and acupuncture alternatives.

Comparative Analysis

The Nigerian and Chinese cultures are similar in that both cultures are very tribal and

have a solid spiritual basis when considering the traditional people. In Chinese culture, families

are very hierarchical concerning age and societal position (Mohamad et al., 2019). People who

hold higher positions have more authority over those below them within their family structure;

for example, the elders have more authority and wisdom than those of lower age, like children.

Therefore, in both cultures, the elders are respected a lot as they hold higher authority than others

(Mohamad et al., 2019). In Nigeria, there are also several levels of authority within a family

structure. Additionally, family is strictly defined by blood relations and kinship, majorly because

of the roles family has in the members. One of the roles is approval for marriage, where family
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members must get the approval of the family members, especially those in higher hierarchies

within the family, like the elders.

Another similarity regards the elderly and health. In essence, both cultures have the same

belief in traditions, especially healthcare. For instance, the Chinese are vital in their alternative

medication, and the use of herbs for medication which is also intertwined with religious

practices, as most of those with skills in herbal practices are associated with spirituality and

highly respected as they have critical roles in religious activities (Mohamad et al., 2019).

Similarly, traditional Nigerians believe in herbs and have exceptional healers who have mastered

the skills.

However, there are differences between the two cultures that are worth exploring. In

Nigeria and throughout much of Africa, people accept that they cannot control their health by

determining how to get healed. They believe they are being controlled by forces beyond their

control, such as the weather, other people, diseases, and many other forces. In essence, Nigerian

culture is based on the belief in the power of spirits and ancestors; among the forces they cannot

control. In contrast, the Chinese view illnesses as a result of personal weakness in the body and

the spirit. This is because the Chinese culture is based on Taoism, an ancient religion that

believes in a balance between yin which means negative, and yang, meaning positive (Mohamad

et al., 2019). The goal of this balance is to achieve harmony with one's environment. In other

words, it is a way of living that does involve much spirituality and relation to the universe and

the body.

Moreover, in Nigeria, most people do not see illness as a sign of weakness as the Chinese

culture is framed. They believe that if a person is sick, something is wrong with the person’s
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body and needs fixing it. This can be done through prayer, traditional medicine, like herbs, or

modern medicine, like scientific pharmacological medicine.

Reflection

One difference between the culture discussed and mine is that the Spanish culture has

strong ties with Catholicism and Christianity. However, Taoism does not have any specific

religious beliefs. Taoism is different from Spanish cultural and religious beliefs in many ways.

Taoists believe that the universe is an infinite energy source and that humans are part of this

energy (Vuong et al., 2018). They believe that humans should not interfere with the natural order

of things but instead be in harmony with it. Taoism also teaches that beings have their natural

way of doing things and that people should not try to control others or make them do things their

way. In contrast, my culture, Spanish, believes in the existence of God and is firmly rooted in

Christianity, specifically Catholicism. This is a significant difference because, unlike Taoism,

my religion believes in the three arms of the supreme being, the father, son, and the holy spirit,

and thus does not believe in being part of energy.

Additionally, we do not believe in traditional healing like the Chinese culture but instead,

appreciate nature and what it has to offer to people. The latter is one of the similarities because,

like Taoism identified by the interviewee, the character has a lot to offer humans (Vuong et al.,

2018).
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References

Chen, Y., Zhao, Y., & Wang, Z. (2020). The effect of religious belief on Chinese elderly

health. BMC public health, 20(1), 627. [Link]

Mohamad, H. S., Wenli, S., & Qi, C. (2019). Traditional Chinese medicine and agriculture;

Organic Life and sustainability for future. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences,

7(1), 091–095. [Link]

Orenstein GA, Lewis. (n.d.). Erikson stages of psychosocial development - NCBI bookshelf.

Retrieved November 4, 2022, from [Link]

Vuong, Q. H., Bui, Q. K., La, V. P., Vuong, T. T., Nguyen, V. H. T., Ho, M. T., ... & Ho, M. T.

(2018). Cultural additivity: behavioral insights from the interaction of Confucianism,

Buddhism, and Taoism in folktales. Palgrave Communications, 4(1), 1-15.

[Link]