Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data
Lay concepts of successful ageing have attracted the attention of researchers over the past 15 years. However, little is known about how older people in Southeastern European countries understand successful ageing and the factors associated with it. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study cond...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Rijeka
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Psychological Topics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/783 |
| _version_ | 1797974660605804544 |
|---|---|
| author | Ivana Tucak Junaković Neala Ambrosi-Randić |
| author_facet | Ivana Tucak Junaković Neala Ambrosi-Randić |
| author_sort | Ivana Tucak Junaković |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Lay concepts of successful ageing have attracted the attention of researchers over the past 15 years. However, little is known about how older people in Southeastern European countries understand successful ageing and the factors associated with it. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study conducted in Croatia, a Southeastern European country, was to explore Croatian older people’s definitions of successful ageing and the contributing factors. Interviews were conducted with 95 community-dwelling older men (49.5% of the sample) and women (50.5%) aged 65 to 90 years. Participants answered questions about definitions and contributing factors/determinants of successful ageing. Responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that participants gave similar responses to questions about the components and determinants of successful ageing. The most frequently mentioned components of successful ageing were the physical/physiological (with subthemes of general health, healthy habits, and physical mobility), the psychological component (with subthemes of good life, subjective well-being, and psychological resources, etc.), and the engagement and activity component. Among factors that contribute to successful ageing, social and physical were mentioned most frequently, followed by psychological, financial factors, and engagement/activity. Longevity and good genes were rarely cited as factors associated with successful ageing. Besides, Croatian older people have not mentioned spirituality or religiosity as important components or determinants of successful ageing. The results of our study are mostly consistent with the findings of previous research on successful ageing in predominantly Western cultures. They show the great heterogeneity of lay conceptions, which are much broader and more complex compared to researchers’ models of successful ageing.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:23:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecbfce16e7c44e6fa5cb283a9ae2a4de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1332-0742 1849-0395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:23:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Rijeka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychological Topics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecbfce16e7c44e6fa5cb283a9ae2a4de2022-12-30T10:46:47ZengUniversity of RijekaPsychological Topics1332-07421849-03952022-12-01313Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative DataIvana Tucak Junaković0Neala Ambrosi-Randić1University of Zadar, Department of Psychology, Zadar, CroatiaJuraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Science and Arts in Pula, Pula, Croatia Lay concepts of successful ageing have attracted the attention of researchers over the past 15 years. However, little is known about how older people in Southeastern European countries understand successful ageing and the factors associated with it. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study conducted in Croatia, a Southeastern European country, was to explore Croatian older people’s definitions of successful ageing and the contributing factors. Interviews were conducted with 95 community-dwelling older men (49.5% of the sample) and women (50.5%) aged 65 to 90 years. Participants answered questions about definitions and contributing factors/determinants of successful ageing. Responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that participants gave similar responses to questions about the components and determinants of successful ageing. The most frequently mentioned components of successful ageing were the physical/physiological (with subthemes of general health, healthy habits, and physical mobility), the psychological component (with subthemes of good life, subjective well-being, and psychological resources, etc.), and the engagement and activity component. Among factors that contribute to successful ageing, social and physical were mentioned most frequently, followed by psychological, financial factors, and engagement/activity. Longevity and good genes were rarely cited as factors associated with successful ageing. Besides, Croatian older people have not mentioned spirituality or religiosity as important components or determinants of successful ageing. The results of our study are mostly consistent with the findings of previous research on successful ageing in predominantly Western cultures. They show the great heterogeneity of lay conceptions, which are much broader and more complex compared to researchers’ models of successful ageing. https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/783successful ageinglay conceptionsqualitative researcholder people |
| spellingShingle | Ivana Tucak Junaković Neala Ambrosi-Randić Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data Psychological Topics successful ageing lay conceptions qualitative research older people |
| title | Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data |
| title_full | Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data |
| title_fullStr | Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data |
| title_short | Lay Definitions of Successful Ageing and Contributing Factors among Croatian Older Adults: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data |
| title_sort | lay definitions of successful ageing and contributing factors among croatian older adults a thematic analysis of qualitative data |
| topic | successful ageing lay conceptions qualitative research older people |
| url | https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/783 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ivanatucakjunakovic laydefinitionsofsuccessfulageingandcontributingfactorsamongcroatianolderadultsathematicanalysisofqualitativedata AT nealaambrosirandic laydefinitionsofsuccessfulageingandcontributingfactorsamongcroatianolderadultsathematicanalysisofqualitativedata |