What Makes Us Respect Older Adults: Linking Multiple Factor Profiles With Respect for Older Adults Among Chinese Adults

ObjectiveRespect for older adults (ROA) is shaped by multiple ecological systems and personal factors. However, little is known about the potential subgroups that may differ in their constellation of influencing factors and their association with ROA.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1,476 community-dwelling Chinese adults aged 18-83 years (<i>M</i>_<i>age</i> = 36.52 ± 10.73). Participants completed 12 questionnaires assessing community, family, intergenerational, and individual factors, along with ROA.ResultsLatent profile analysis identified four distinct profiles: <i>Alienation-Low Support</i> (11.86%), <i>Rejection-Family Risk</i> (12.40%), <i>Moderate Support</i> (25.75%), and <i>Cohesion-High Support</i> (50.00%). Compared with the Cohesion-High Support group, the other three groups reported significantly lower ROA. Furthermore, the Alienation-Low Support group exhibited a significantly lower ROA than both the Rejection-Family Risk and Moderate Support groups. These findings demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in multiple influencing factors, indicating that ROA levels vary significantly across different factor profiles.ConclusionThis study provides empirical evidence that is valuable for developing targeted interventions to enhance ROA within the contemporary Chinese context.