Sexual Expression in Old Age: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Objective: This study aims to analyze how older adults express themselves sexually. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes their perspectives at a cross-national level. Methods: Four hundred and ninety five older participants aged 65 to 98 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis. Results: Results of content analysis produced nine themes: Tender and care (k = .91, p < .01); altruism and gratitude (k = .81, p < .01); attractiveness (k = 94, p < .01); positive communication (k = .89, p < .01); sexual activity (k = .88, p < .01); good health and physical condition (k = .96, p < .01); supportive relationship (k = .84, p < .01); eroticism (k = .94, p < .01); and feeling active and alive (k = .92, p < .01). Conclusions: This study stressed different ways on expressing sexuality in old age and underlined the importance of tender and care and eroticism for older adults who are sexually active. Keywords: Content analysis; older adults; qualitative study; sexual expression.

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Are Older Adults Sexually Well: A Comparative Qualitative Study in Portugal and Romania

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.992 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 310-310

Author(s):

Sofia von Humboldt ◽

Georgeta Niculescu ◽

Gail Low ◽

Isabel Leal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Family Support ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Open Communication ◽

Joint Activities ◽

Supportive Relationship ◽

Cross National

Abstract Objective: This study aims the perspectives of older adults on their sexual well-being. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes older adults’ perspectives on indicators of sexual well-being in Portugal and Romania. Methods: Forty seven older participants aged 65 to 91 years, were interviewed. Participants lived in the community. All the interviews went through content analysis. Results: Preliminary results of content analysis generated 5 themes for the Romanian sample: Supportive relationship (k = .92, p < .01); positive financial situation (k = .91, p < .01); good health (k = 94, p < .01); education (k = .88, p < .01); and family support (k = .89, p < .01); and five themes for the Portuguese sample: Supportive relationship (k = .91, p < .01); demonstration of love (k = .91, p < .01); sharing joint activities (k = 92, p < .01); positive attitude and good humor (k = .91, p < .01); and open communication (k = .99, p < .01); Conclusions: This study highlighted the perspectives of Portuguese and Romanian older adults concerning sexual well-being. For both samples, showing a supportive relationship with a partner was the more frequent theme. Keywords: Content analysis; cross-national; older adults; qualitative study; sexual well-being.

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Ambivalence Among Intergenerational Relationships In Old Age

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2899 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 792-792

Author(s):

Sofia von Humboldt ◽

Andrea Costa ◽

Sara Silva ◽

Isabel Leal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Old Age ◽

Adult Children ◽

National Level ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Care And Support ◽

Study Support ◽

Definition Of

Abstract Objective This study aims to analyze the perspectives of intergenerational relationships between older adults and adult children. For this purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, which analyzes these relations at a cross-national level. Methods Four hundred and twenty four older participants aged 65-97 years, were interviewed. Participants were of three different nationalities and lived in the community. All the interviews went through the process of verbatim transcription and subsequent content analysis. Results Two dimensions of generational ambivalence were revealed from the study; support and the conflict dimensions. Findings of content analysis produced six themes, which represent intergenerational relations between older adults and adult children: older adults-adult children interaction quality; family integration; care and support; definition of limits; distance and alienation; and communication difficulties. Conclusions This study highlighted the diversity of experiences in old age, in relation to intergenerational relationships and underlined the conflicting expectations from older adults in relation to their adult children. Keywords: Adult children, ambivalence; conflict; intergenerational relationships; older adults; support.

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How do Iranian older adults define place attachment? a qualitative study

Health Promotion Perspectives ◽

10.34172/hpp.2021.23 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 186-193

Author(s):

Zahra Aliakbarzadeh Arani ◽

Nasibeh Zanjari ◽

Ahmad Delbari ◽

Mahshid Foroughan ◽

Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Old Age ◽

Place Attachment ◽

Aging In Place ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Directed Content Analysis ◽

The Subject ◽

Cultural Attachment

Background: Place attachment is the emotional bond between individuals and environment, which seems to increase wellbeing in old age. The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of place attachment from older adults’ perspective. Methods: In this qualitative study, a total of 14 older adults were purposively included in Aran and Bidgool city, Isfahan, Iran. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview and analyzed applying a directed content analysis approach. Results: As participants reported, place attachment meant intensive love, pride, dependency, and familiarity with the environment. Socio-economic attachment was identified as the most prevalent dimension of place attachment, followed by affective, physical, autobiographical, and religious-cultural attachment. Conclusion: Our findings provided a new understanding of place attachment in the context of Iran. The concept of place attachment was identified with a multidimensional nature from Iranian older adults’ perspective. Such a multidimensionality of place attachment should be considered while planning for age-friendly cities or the operationalization of the subject of aging in place, particularly in the developing societies, like Iran.

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Bullying in Old Age: A Qualitative Study on Older Adults’ Perceptions About Being Bullied

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520943709 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052094370

Author(s):

Sofia von Humboldt ◽

José Alberto Ribeiro-Gonçalves ◽

Isabel Leal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Social Skills ◽

Old Age ◽

Gender Discrimination ◽

Sense Of Agency ◽

Financial Resources ◽

Learning Capacity ◽

Being Bullied

Significant demographic changes and a growing aging population increasingly emphasize the importance of assessing phenomena of violence against older adults, who constitute a vulnerable population. Therefore, bullying in old age is a poorly studied phenomena, but of growing importance. This study aims to analyze the perspectives of bullying in old age, using qualitative research at a cross-national level. We interviewed 173 older participants aged 65–91 years. Participants were Portuguese and English and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. All the interviews went through a process of content analysis. Sample recruitment occurred through initial telephone contact, followed by a request to participate. Outcomes of content analysis produced seven themes, all of them associated with bullying experiences such as compromised learning capacity, loss of sense of agency and decision-making, asexuality, less attractive appearance, less social skills, gender discrimination, and less financial resources. Portuguese older adults felt mostly bullied for their loss of sense of agency and decision-making, less attractive appearance, less social skills, and less financial resources, while English participants mostly felt bullied for their compromised learning capacity, gender discrimination, and asexuality. The themes identified as being the most prominent in bullying are valuable guidelines for social policies and interventions toward bullying among older adults. Considering the scarcity of studies on bullying in older adults, this study is relevant for understanding the experience of older adults in relation to being bullied and for implementing psychosocial intervention programs including bullying situations that affect community-dwelling older adults.

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Delivering Public Services in the Mixed Economy of Welfare: Perspectives from the Voluntary and Community Sector in Rural England

Journal of Social Policy ◽

10.1017/s0047279410000292 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 157-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

IRENE HARDILL ◽

PETER DWYER

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Old Age ◽

Independent Living ◽

Public Services ◽

The Impact ◽

Rural England ◽

Community Sector

AbstractThe voluntary and community sector in England is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services to older adults and in doing so they rely on unpaid volunteers. In this article, we draw on the findings of a recent qualitative study of the impact on the voluntary and community sector of delivering ‘low-level’ public services that promote independent living and wellbeing in old age. The fieldwork focused on services that help older adults aged 70+ living in remote rural communities across three English regions. Those charged with service delivery, which is increasingly the voluntary and community sector, face particular challenges, such as uncertain funding regimes and reliance on volunteer labour.

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The Definition and Categories of Positive Solitude: Older and Younger Adults’ Perspectives on Spending Time by Themselves

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415020957379 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 009141502095737

Author(s):

Sharon Ost Mor ◽

Yuval Palgi ◽

Dikla Segel-Karpas

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Old Age ◽

Age Groups ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Definition Of

This paper attempts to develop a better understanding of the positive solitude (PS) phenomenon and its meaning among age groups, as well as formulate a unanimous definition for PS. A qualitative study ( N = 124) was conducted. Participants were gerontology professionals and laypeople. Interviews were conducted and content was analyzed in order to understand the essence of PS, themes, and subthemes. Two major categories were found: the essence and the components of the PS experience. Seven PS content categories and three meta-themes were raised: (1) PS is a matter of choice; (2) PS is satisfying and enjoyable; and (3) PS is meaningful. Differences in PS categories between younger and older adults were found. The meta-themes served as the foundation of a new definition. PS has different attributes in old age. A unified definition of PS may help distinguishing between PS and other forms of being alone. Recognizing and facilitating the PS experience among older adults might be beneficial and contribute to their quality of life.

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Psychological Sense of Community Responsibility and Diversity in Old Age: A Qualitative Study of Urban Older Adults in India

Open Journal of Social Sciences ◽

10.4236/jss.2017.57024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 05 (07) ◽

pp. 387-401 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nina Kavita Heggen Bahl ◽

Ingunn Hagen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Old Age ◽

Sense Of Community ◽

Psychological Sense Of Community ◽

Community Responsibility ◽

Psychological Sense

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EVOLUTION OF THE FRAILTY CONCEPT

HERALD of North-Western State Medical University named after I I Mechnikov ◽

10.17816/mechnikov201791117-124 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 117-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A V Turusheva ◽

E V Frolova ◽

J M Degryse

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Old Age ◽

Good Health ◽

Population Ageing ◽

Frailty Models ◽

Predictive Tool ◽

History Of Development ◽

Financial Costs ◽

History Of

Following the worldwide trend of population ageing, the number of older adults in Russia is increas- ing. The population of older adults is highly heterogeneous. Some people live to old age in good health and retain the ability to be independent and active participants of society, while others experience a reduction in physical and cognitive functions and lose their ability to live independently. This group of older adults needs additional assistance leading to increased financial costs due to their treatment and follow up. The concept of frailty was proposed as a potential predictive tool for this population of older adults. The aim of this study was to present different frailty models and history of development of the frailty concept.

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Nurses’ Encounters With Older Adults Engaged in Self-Neglectful Behaviors in the Community: A Qualitative Study

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464816665206 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (8) ◽

pp. 965-989 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tova Band-Winterstein

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Old Age ◽

Community Care ◽

Experienced Nurses ◽

Age Related ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Nurses Role

Objective: Alongside clinical tasks and decision making, there is a growing awareness of the emotions that arise during nurses’ interaction with clients and its significance in relation to meeting the demands of one’s role. This study aims to delve deeper into the experience of community care nurses’ encounters with older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors. Method: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 experienced nurses in Israel, who worked with older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors in the community. Results: Three main themes emerged: “Everything is amplified in old age”: An age-related decline in functioning produces situations of self-neglect, Self-neglect as an experience imprinted on the nurse’s work: The struggle for treatment, and “What is our role here?”—Nurses’ obligations in cases of self-neglect. Conclusion: The complexity of older adults engaged in self-neglectful behaviors results in feelings of confusion and ambiguity regarding the nurses’ role.

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