PhD defence W. (Wenran) Xia

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation: 

Many nations are exploring community-based approaches to supplement traditional care services and promote active ageing. Fostering mutual support among older adults within communities is increasingly recognised as a promising strategy. However, little is known about how older adults engage in such mutual support and how these supportive behaviours influence their psychosocial well-being. This paper aims to address this gap across diverse sociocultural contexts.

Combining analyses of large-scale longitudinal data from Europe and China, qualitative multi-case studies, and longitudinal survey research, this paper examines (1) the potential mechanisms facilitating older adults' participation in community mutual support, and (2) how mutual support influences their psychosocial well-being. The qualitative multi-case study identified multi-level interactive mechanisms where community-level social cohesion and organisational support create enabling environments that enhance individuals' capabilities, motivation, and opportunities for participation. Quantitative research examines longitudinal associations between community-based mutual support participation and psychosocial well-being among older adults, further exploring how community environments shape these relationships.

This thesis provides conceptual and practical insights for developing sustainable community-based mutual support systems. Such systems require balancing individual autonomy with collective solidarity, top-down policy guidance with bottom-up community initiatives, and formal with informal care provision.