Who stays? Understanding the attrition in a longitudinal aging study of older Chinese immigrants in the United States.

Background and Objectives: Despite the rapid growth of older Asian American populations, little is known about their retention and its associated factors in longitudinal aging studies, partially due to the limited longitudinal studies among this population. This study addresses this critical gap by examining key predictors of attrition in this understudied population. Research Design and Methods: Using data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE), a large longitudinal epidemiological study of older Chinese immigrants in the United States (US), we analyzed the effect of sociodemographic, immigration, health, and psychosocial characteristics on attrition status and various attrition patterns. Results: High levels of acculturation and longer length of stay in the US were associated with a higher likelihood of attrition. Also, participants with higher levels of educational attainment and loneliness were more likely to drop out of the study earlier. In addition, participants with lower income were more likely to remain in the study. Discussion and Implications: These results show unique attrition dynamics in older Asian immigrants, where acculturation and education paradoxically increase attrition risk. These findings highlight the need for tailored retention strategies to enhance continued participation in longitudinal aging studies among older Asian American immigrants.