Browsing by Author "Niculescu, Georgeta"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Adjustment to aging, subjective age and age representation: Assessing a nationally-diverse population of older adultsPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, I.; Pimenta, Filipa; Niculescu, GeorgetaAim: This research sought to analyse older adults’ conceptualization of adjustment to aging (AtA), subjective age (SA) and age representation (AR), adding a cross-national comparative perspective to aging well. Method: Questionnaires were completed, assessing participants’ background information. Semi-structured interviews were performed, addressing three core areas: SA, AtA and AR. Complete information on 231 older adults aged between 74-102 years (M = 83.1; SD = 6.692) from four different nationalities, was available. Data was subjected to content analysis. Results: Seven categories were identified to contribute to AtA: ‘accomplishment, personal fulfilment and future projects’, ‘occupation, profession, autonomy and leisure’, ‘health status, physical and intellectual functioning’, ‘valorisation of time and age’, ‘family, social and interpersonal attachment’, ‘stability, quality and financial situation’, and ‘sense of limit and existential issues’. Five categories were identified for SA: ‘with congruence’, ‘without concern’, ‘with apprehension’, ‘young-at-heart’ and ‘good enough’. For AR, eight emergent categories were found: ‘future investment’, ‘reconciliation with life’, ‘present challenge’, ‘regret about the past’, ‘dynamic life’, ‘with contentment’, ‘as an opportunity’ and ‘with dissatisfaction’. Conclusion: This research contributes for a better understanding of what defines AtA, SA and AR in older adults. Moreover, interventions and communication approaches in clinical practice and program development in health care context should focus on shared perceptions of aging well.
- Aging with diabetes: Sense of coherence and satisfaction with life in european older adults with type 2 diabetesPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, Isabel Pereira; Santos, Susana; Niculescu, GeorgetaABSTRACT -- Objectives: The population’s increased longevity is leading to a worldwide concern about older adults’ well-being and about the incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The present research intends to: (a) determine significant differences among three groups of older adults with diverse diabetes diagnosis, namely, participants with only type 2 diabetes, participants with diabetes and other chronic diseases and the remaining without any chronic disease, regarding the satisfaction with life (SWL) and sense of coherence (SOC) scores, and (b) to assess the association of SWL with SOC in these groups. Method: We recruited 304 non-institutionalized older adults aged between 74-100 years (M=82.9; SD= 6.71), who were allocated to three groups, according to their diagnosed medical condition. Measures were completed, including demographics, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire. Results: Significant differences were found regarding the SWL and SOC among the three groups. The lowest SOC and SWL scores were found in the ‘only diabetes’ group. Findings also indicated the existence of an association between SOC and SWL scores in the with ‘only diabetes’ group. No correlations were found between SOC and SWL scores in the ‘without diabetes’ and ‘with diabetes and other’ groups. Conclusions: Findings suggest that chronic diseases such as diabetes, as well as the existence of comorbidities, differently influence both SWL and SOC. Furthermore, this study discloses the importance of SWL and SOC for the elderly, in particular when in the presence of diabetes, and their relevance in the context of healthy aging in older populations.
- In the eyes of older adults: Self-reported age and adjustment in african and european older adultsPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, I.; Pimenta, Filipa; Niculescu, GeorgetaTo explore older adults’ perceptions of subjective age and adjustment to ageing and to analyse the correlational structure of the pre-categories in our study: subjective age, indicators of adjustment to ageing and of personal age perception. An exploratory, descriptive mixedmethods design was utilised. A purposive sampling method was used to select 154 older adults aged between 75 and 99 years from three different nationalities. Semi-structured interviews were performed, addressing two core areas: subjective age and adjustment to ageing. Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the correlational structure of the precategories in our study (subjective age and indicators of adjustment to ageing) were analysed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Standardised instruments measured regular cognitive abilities. Five categories derived from interviews for subjective age: ‘adapted’, ‘disconnected’, ‘old’, ‘youthful’ and ‘tolerant’. A total of seven categories emerged as indicators of adjustment to ageing: ‘social networking’, ‘health’, ‘time perspective’, ‘spirituality’, ‘financial autonomy’, ‘professional activities’ and ‘fulfilment and leisure’. These results supported a model for each pre-category. Subjective age was explained by a two-factor model: ‘age-conscientious’ and ‘youthful’. A three-dimensional model formed by ‘reconciled’, ‘satisficers’ and ‘maximisers’ was indicated as a best-fit solution for adjustment to ageing. A three-dimensional overall model for PAP was formed by ‘age-cognisant’, ‘fulfilled’ and ‘satisficers’. The findings highlighted the underdeveloped potential of subjective age, adjustment to ageing and a personal age perception overall model for this population. Enhancing subjective age and adjustment to ageing might be an important target to improve older adults’ interventions’ outcomes.
- Latent constructs of adjustment to aging and subjective age in Portugal and Romania: A comparative multiple correspondence analysisPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, I.; Pimenta, Filipa; Niculescu, GeorgetaObjective: To analyze the determinants of adjustment to aging (AtA) and subjective age (SA) identified by older adults and to investigate the differences of latent constructs that can work as major determinants in AtA and SA in an older Portuguese and Romanian population. Method: Measures were completed, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 38 older adults aged between 74-90 years (M=80.6; SD = 5.4), from Portugal and Romenia. Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Results: The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for determinants to AtA was ‘health status, physical and intellectual functioning’ (18.1%). ‘With apprehension’ and ‘good enough’ (both 27.0%) were identified as the most frequent SA responses. Findings showed a model for each nationality. AtA and SA for Portuguese elderly were explained by a three-factor model: ‘regardful’, ‘engaged’ and ‘conciliated’. A three-dimension model formed by ‘perseverant’, ‘congruent’ and ‘enjoyers’ was indicated as a best-fit solution for Romanian elderly. Conclusion: AtA and SA are strongly explained by increased likelihood of specific constructs in its definition. AtA is related to SA in older adults in both countries, although in different degree.