Currently, research on authenticity mainly focuses on young and middle-aged Western groups. To explore the characteristics of authenticity among Chinese older adults, 18 individuals aged 53~88 in Chinese mainland were interviewed, and the data were coded using grounded theory. The findings included the following five aspects: First, Chinese older adults have three subjective constructions of authenticity: self-centered orientation, self-other balanced orientation, and others/responsibility orientation. Most of them endorse two or more constructions. Second, factors that facilitate and hinder authenticity in older adults include environmental, psychological, and physiological factors. Third, Chinese older adults have five motivations underlying authenticity pursuit: pursuing authenticity, avoiding inauthenticity, sacrificing authenticity, balancing authenticity, and lack of motivation. Fourth, Chinese older adults use three types of strategies to pursue authenticity: passive coping, proactive adjustment, and cognitive adjustment. Fifth, both authenticity and inauthenticity have positive and negative impacts on the Chinese older adults. The experience of authenticity does not simply increase with age; rather, it is shaped by multiple factors and exhibits diverse patterns of change across different types. 

authenticity, subjective construction, pursuit process, grounded theory, older adults