Tongtong Zhao

Tongtong Zhao received her master's degree in Basic Psychology at Southwest University China in June 2023 and became a member of the Meaning Research Late Life team in September 2023. 

 

In her PhD research, she intends to use a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to explore whether older people in mainland China and older people of Chinese origin living in Belgium experience existential isolation and existential loneliness, and how these experiences relate to depression and well-being. Based on this, a cross-cultural study will be conducted to compare the experiences of existential isolation and existential loneliness among older Chinese living in China, older Chinese living in Belgium, and older Belgians, and to explore the role played by culture, particularly individualistic and collectivistic values. The China Scholarship Council funds this research.