Presenter(s):

Weiguo Zhang, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada

Abstract

This study examines eighteen narrative stories and twenty poems collected through a digital storytelling community project involving older Chinese immigrants in Canada. Rooted in the World Health Organization’s Active Aging Framework—encompassing health, participation, and security—this research employs in-depth textual analysis to explore how digital storytelling serves as a medium for older Chinese immigrants to navigate challenges such as language barriers, cultural adaptation, social isolation, and identity shifts after migration. Storytelling emerges as a powerful strategy for fostering resilience and social connection, allowing older Chinese immigrants to affirm their experiences, strengthen their sense of belonging, and contribute to a collective community memory. By actively engaging in community life through participation in storytelling initiatives, lifelong learning programs, and volunteer activities, they achieve cognitive stimulation, psychological well-being, and an enhanced sense of agency.
Findings reveal that digital storytelling contributes to active aging by fostering mental and emotional well-being, strengthening social bonds, and reinforcing cultural identity. Community engagement significantly alleviates social isolation and fosters emotional resilience, while volunteerism and peer support networks enhance their sense of self-worth and interdependence. Additionally, access to robust social networks provides emotional and economic security, reinforcing stability and well-being in later life. This study provides empirical evidence of the applicability of the Active Aging Framework in immigrant communities, demonstrating how digital storytelling promotes engagement, identity affirmation, and well-being. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and community organizations on the role of digital storytelling in supporting immigrant aging populations, advocating for broader integration of narrative practices into community programs and aging policies.

Bio(s):

Weiguo Zhang is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto and affiliated with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and the Institute for Life Course and Aging. He received his Ph.D. in Development Studies at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands, in 1998. His current research investigates the effects of the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and migration on intra-group dynamics and aging experiences of Chinese Canadians, social responses to COVID-19, and anti-Asian racism. He is the author of Economic Reforms and Fertility Behaviour: A Study of a North China Village (Taylor and Francis. 2002). His recent publications include ‘Perceptions and expectations of filial piety among older Chinese immigrants in Canada’ Ageing and Society 42(3): 497-520 (2022), and ‘Is death taboo for older Chinese immigrants?” Omega-Journal of Death and Dying 84(4):1061-1080 (2020).