LAUSR

Attempts to understand factors influential to the quality of life of older populations have long been a focus in gerontology literature. Recent efforts have expanded beyond age and health factors and prioritize social determinates to the quality of life among older adults. Burnette and her colleagues’ article (2020) represents an effort to dissect the effect of living alone on the quality of life among olderChinese adults, by examining one proposed underlyingmechanism – social cohesion within different residential settings (i.e. urban or rural areas). Like most countries that went through industrialization andmodernization, China witnessed remarkable changes in family size, structure, and dynamics (Yeung and Cheung, 2015; Zhao and Guo, 2010). Such changes challenge traditional norms and values toward elder care derived fromConfucius’ thoughts of filial piety. Filial piety simply refers to expectations of adult children to respect and support older parents by providing physical, emotional, and financial means (Ikels, 2004). In traditional Chinese culture, adult children who lived with their parents was common. However, in contemporary Chinese culture, adult children are unlikely to live with their parents for reasons other than employment opportunities and career development. The geographic and social distances between generations, along with increased life expectancy, have contributed to rising numbers of older Chinese adults who live alone. Recognizing this cultural shift, Burnette et al.’s paper is meaningful by focusing on the effect of living alone on the quality of life of older Chinese adults. It is even inspirational as it attempts to detect and test an underlying mechanism via which living alone affects quality of life in rural and urban settings. This commentary aims to help readers better comprehend the implications of Burnette et al.’s study by highlighting their contributions to the literature, setting parameters for interpretation of their findings, and alluding to a direction for future studies in this regard.