Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Discrimination and Quality of Life Among Marriage-Squeezed Men in Rural China : Unexpected Functions of Structural and Functional Social Support

Wang, Sasa ; Yang, Xueyan and Eklund, Lisa LU (2022) In Social Indicators Research p.885-905
Abstract
In rural China, marriage-squeezed men are more likely to experience discrimination than other males. Using data collected from Anhui Province in China on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life, this study examines the influence of discrimination on the quality of life and the buffering effect of social support among this cohort. The results show that discrimination is a strong stressor, and its negative consequences on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life are difficult to eliminate, with social support having a limited buffering effect. Meanwhile, structural support and functional support had different functions on quality of life of marriage-squeezed men experiencing discrimination. Whereas structural support had no significant main... (More)
In rural China, marriage-squeezed men are more likely to experience discrimination than other males. Using data collected from Anhui Province in China on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life, this study examines the influence of discrimination on the quality of life and the buffering effect of social support among this cohort. The results show that discrimination is a strong stressor, and its negative consequences on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life are difficult to eliminate, with social support having a limited buffering effect. Meanwhile, structural support and functional support had different functions on quality of life of marriage-squeezed men experiencing discrimination. Whereas structural support had no significant main effect on quality of life, interaction with relatives and neighbors had a buffering effect on the relationship between discrimination and quality of life. In contrast, functional support, particularly from family members, relatives, and neighbors, had positive main effects on quality of life; however, no buffering effect was observed. The findings affirm that discrimination must be addressed as an independent and important factor. Promoting marriage-squeezed men’s social ties outside the family can reduce the damaging effect of discrimination, while future research needs to seek other protective resources to maintain the men’s quality of life. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Marriage-squeezed men, Wellbeing, Quality of life, Social support, Discrimination, China
in
Social Indicators Research
issue
159
pages
885 - 905
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85113476556
ISSN
0303-8300
DOI
10.1007/s11205-021-02776-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
720432a6-5de7-4c66-a287-239cd442ef42
date added to LUP
2021-08-19 14:21:42
date last changed
2022-04-19 07:32:56
@article{720432a6-5de7-4c66-a287-239cd442ef42,
  abstract     = {{In rural China, marriage-squeezed men are more likely to experience discrimination than other males. Using data collected from Anhui Province in China on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life, this study examines the influence of discrimination on the quality of life and the buffering effect of social support among this cohort. The results show that discrimination is a strong stressor, and its negative consequences on marriage-squeezed men’s quality of life are difficult to eliminate, with social support having a limited buffering effect. Meanwhile, structural support and functional support had different functions on quality of life of marriage-squeezed men experiencing discrimination. Whereas structural support had no significant main effect on quality of life, interaction with relatives and neighbors had a buffering effect on the relationship between discrimination and quality of life. In contrast, functional support, particularly from family members, relatives, and neighbors, had positive main effects on quality of life; however, no buffering effect was observed. The findings affirm that discrimination must be addressed as an independent and important factor. Promoting marriage-squeezed men’s social ties outside the family can reduce the damaging effect of discrimination, while future research needs to seek other protective resources to maintain the men’s quality of life.}},
  author       = {{Wang, Sasa and Yang, Xueyan and Eklund, Lisa}},
  issn         = {{0303-8300}},
  keywords     = {{Marriage-squeezed men; Wellbeing; Quality of  life; Social support; Discrimination; China}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{159}},
  pages        = {{885--905}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Social Indicators Research}},
  title        = {{Discrimination and Quality of Life Among Marriage-Squeezed Men in Rural China : Unexpected Functions of Structural and Functional Social Support}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02776-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11205-021-02776-7}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}