JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

A silver lining to the pandemic is that it has cast a spotlight on a long-underserved group. Older Asian Americans have received immense support particularly amid the barrage of attacks against them. In the Twitter sphere, support for them has coalesced around the hashtag #ProtectOurElders. To date, discourse surrounding older Asian Americans has escaped the attention of gerontologists—a gap we seek to fill. Findings from this study serve as a reflection of the level of support being extended to older Asian Americans, even as it provides timely insights that will ultimately advance equity for this community.

Objective:

This study explores the kinds of discourses surrounding older Asian Americans during the COVID-19 crisis, specifically in relation to the surge in anti-Asian sentiments. Specifically, this study pivots around the following questions: What types of discourses emerge in relation to older adults from the AAPI community and the need to support them? How do age and race interact to shape these discourses? What are the implications of these discourses for older Asian Americans?

Methods:

Tweets (N=5,243) were retrieved through two search queries using the Twitter API (Application Programming Interface) v2. For the first query, we collated tweets with the hashtag #ProtectOurElders. For the second query, we collected tweets with either the hashtag #StopAAPIHate or #StopAsianHate and an age-based term (e.g., ‘elderly’, ‘old(er) adults(s)’). Tweets were posted from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2022. Upon applying the exclusion criteria, the final dataset contained 947 tweets. Inductive and deductive approaches informed our qualitative content analysis.

Results:

Four themes emerged. 1 in 2 tweets (49%) framed older Asian Americans as ‘vulnerable and in need of protection’ (Theme 1). Tweets in this theme either singled out older Asian Americans as a group in need of protection because of their vulnerable status or discussed initiatives aimed at safeguarding their well-being. 32% celebrated them as ‘heroic and resilient’ (Theme 2). Relevant tweets celebrated older Asian Americans for displaying tremendous strength in the face of attack or described them as being individuals not to trifle with. 10% depicted them as ‘immigrants who have made selfless contributions and sacrifices’ (Theme 3). Posts in this section referenced the immense sacrifices made by older Asian Americans in migrating to the United States as well as the systemic barriers they had to overcome. 9% extolled them as ‘worthy of honor’ (Theme 4). Tweets in this theme venerated older Asian Americans.

Conclusions:

The COVID-19 crisis has had the unintended effect of garnering greater support for older Asian Americans. It is consequential that support be extended to this group not so much by virtue of their perceived vulnerability, but more so in view of their boundless contributions and sacrifices. Clinical Trial: NA