Centenarians’ experience of (non-)loneliness—life lessons

Mackowicz, Jolanta; Wnęk-Gozdek, Joanna

doi:10.1080/03601277.2018.1473969

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Optimism had played a significant role in predicting survival after 5-year intervals for both age groups, after accounting for common mortality risk factors and depression [21]. Furthermore, optimism among centenarians can help build positive relationships that protect against loneliness in very late life [22]. Qualitative interviews with 16 centenarians in the United Kingdom identified "happiness and a good life" (p. 815) as one of six socio-emotional well-being topics important to centenarians [23].…”

Section: Optimismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Happy and Satisfied in Very Late Life? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

Arieli¹,

Martín²,

Ryou³

et al. 2022

OBM Geriatr

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This research aims to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of positive subjective well-being among centenarians and near-centenarians in the Health and Retirement Study. Participants who eventually survived to age 98 or older (N = 516) were included. Study variables included demographic characteristics, health and activities of daily living (ADL) functioning, cognitive functioning, and positive well-being. Additionally, a smaller subsample (n = 192) of participants with supplemental leave-behind questionnaire (LBQ) data, some of whom (n = 30) were assessed across three comparative time points, were included to examine psychological well-being variables over time. In the full sample, approximately 86% and 81% of participants over or near the age of 100 reported enjoying their lives and being happy, respectively. Also in the full sample, better self-rated health (SRH) was associated with greater happiness/enjoyment. Results with the LBQ subsample (n = 192) identified that a) greater life satisfaction related to better SRH, b) better cognitive functioning related to greater optimism and purpose in life, and c) more educated and non-White participants tended to have greater purpose in life. Finally, for the longitudinal subsample, life satisfaction increased significantly while purpose in life decreased significantly as participants neared age 100. Implications for this study include a greater focus on developing interventions geared toward improving psychological well-being; specifically, increasing purpose in life and optimism, as well as focusing on improving happiness and life enjoyment.

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Section: Optimismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Happy and Satisfied in Very Late Life? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

Arieli¹,

Martín²,

Ryou³

et al. 2022

OBM Geriatr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An old person should work and not sit in the corner if they have the strength to work, and the strength should be worked out, so to say. People should keep “doing.” (Mackowicz & Wnek-Gozdek, 2018)…”

Section: Synthesis Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…People should keep "doing." (Mackowicz & Wnek-Gozdek, 2018) Have a good attitude to aging. Aging successfully also hinged on a certain attitude of mind: think positively, accept things as they are, be pragmatic and flexible, and yet (paradoxically) don't ever give in.…”

Section: Discourse On Successful Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Experience of Living to an Extreme Age: A Meta-Ethnography

2019

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Advances in health care mean that we can now treat diseases that once cut lives short. However, the increase in life expectancy has not been matched by improvements in quality of life. The World Health Organization warns us that all countries should prepare to meet the challenges of an aging population and this is integral to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This may require a shift in attitude toward aging. We aimed to use meta-ethnography to explore the experience of adults living beyond the age of 80. Our conceptual model illuminates the phenomenon of connection in older age and reflects on the paradox of time: ephemeral, yet interminable. Our findings encourage us to reflect on the influence of enlightenment philosophies that underpin the desire for autonomy at all costs. Our study challenges the stereotypes of old age and has the potential to influence people’s perspectives toward aging.

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Understanding the experience of living well, beyond the age of 85 years: a qualitative analysis using themes from a meta-ethnography

2021

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Background Increase in life-expectancy is not necessarily matched by an increase in quality of life. Objective (1) To explore the quality of life of patients over the age of 85 in the second decade following unicompartmental knee replacement surgery (2) To understand the usefulness of a priori themes from an evidence synthesis as a framework for primary qualitative analysis. Design Qualitative Research. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach, using a priori themes as sensitising concepts. Participants Adults over the age of 85 who were part of an outcomes study in the second decade following unicompartmental knee joint replacement. Methods Semi-structured interviews in people’s homes. Transcripts were coded and data sorted using a priori themes as sensitising concepts. Data that did not fit these themes, or that added nuance, were analysed thematically through constant comparison. Results We interviewed seven white women and five white men, aged 85–100. Data resonated with a priori themes and supported additional themes that help us to understand older peoples’ experience: (1) losing our autonomy can be challenging, so be kind; (2) we must take care of our own bodies and the NHS; (3) I am more afraid of not dying. Conclusions Findings indicate that health outcomes for older people should incorporate measures of participation and well-being; they highlight the importance of kindness in healthcare; they indicate that older people do not want to place additional burden on the NHS, and this can act as a barrier to care; they support the need for open conversations about dying well.

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Centenarians’ experience of (non-)loneliness—life lessons

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Happy and Satisfied in Very Late Life? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

Happy and Satisfied in Very Late Life? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

The Experience of Living to an Extreme Age: A Meta-Ethnography

Understanding the experience of living well, beyond the age of 85 years: a qualitative analysis using themes from a meta-ethnography

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