The Role of Social Networking Games in Maintaining Intergenerational Communications for Older Adults

Population aging has become a salient issue in contemporary Chinese society (Lee, 2004). An important concern for any aging society is to maintain the health and well-being of older adults (Xie, 2008d, 2009). Studies have shown that family relationships play a critical role in maintaining individuals’ psychological well-being and life satisfaction (Litwin and Shiovitz-Ezra, 2010; Lou, 2010; George, 2010; Phillips, Siu, Yeh and Cheng, 2008). Older adults have a strong desire to communicate more frequently with their children (Lindley, Harper and Sellen, 2009). However, evidence shows that Chinese adults receive relatively poor support from their adult children (Ng, 2002: 135). Many of these intergenerational communication challenges are due to geographical distances (Ng, 2002: 135), time zone differences (Cao et al., 2010), and the busy schedules of the adult children (Tee, Brush and Inkpen, 2009). In China, the family has always been, and is still, the predominant mode of support for aging parents (Tu and associates 1989). However, with the projected increase in the absolute number and proportion of older adults in China, the family-based support system is increasingly under strain. In addition, the traditional family structure has been undergoing rapid transformation as young adults migrate to other regions seeking better employment opportunities (Silverstein, Cong and Li, 2006; Glei et al 2005). Empirical evidence suggests that in contemporary Chinese society, filial piety may be eroding and the family may no longer be the primary 23