A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Social Participation Considered as Meaningful in old age : the Perceptions of Senior Housing Residents in Finland (2023)

Sirén, A.-L., Seppänen, M., & von Bonsdorff, M. B. (2023). Social Participation Considered as Meaningful in old age : the Perceptions of Senior Housing Residents in Finland. Ageing International, 48(4), 1238-1258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-023-09522-z

JYU-tekijät tai -toimittajat

Julkaisun tiedot

Julkaisun kaikki tekijät tai toimittajat: Sirén, Ann-Louise; Seppänen, Marjaana; von Bonsdorff, Mikaela B.

Lehti tai sarja: Ageing International

ISSN: 0163-5158

eISSN: 1936-606X

Julkaisuvuosi: 2023

Ilmestymispäivä: 21.02.2023

Volyymi: 48

Lehden numero: 4

Artikkelin sivunumerot: 1238-1258

Kustantaja: Springer

Julkaisumaa: Yhdysvallat (USA)

Julkaisun kieli: englanti

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-023-09522-z

Julkaisun avoin saatavuus: Avoimesti saatavilla

Julkaisukanavan avoin saatavuus: Osittain avoin julkaisukanava

Julkaisu on rinnakkaistallennettu (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86416

Tiivistelmä

As populations across the world age, there is a recognised need for promoting social participation in older adults. Previous studies related to social participation have addressed that interactions perceived as meaningful may improve quality of life in old age. However, what is less clear is the nature of such participation from the perspective of older adults, as the vast majority of studies have been quantitative. The present study aimed to explore what characterises social participation that contributes to a meaningful everyday life, from the viewpoint of independently living Finnish older adults. Thematic analysis was used as an interpretative method drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with six residents aged 82 to 97 years from one senior housing facility. The analysis showed that social participation perceived as meaningful involved caring reciprocal interactions with people they connected with; having the freedom to make autonomous decisions and influence matters that affected their own or others’ everyday life; and, on a more abstract level, feeling significant as a person. It furthermore fostered independence and companionship as well as reduced loneliness. To describe social participation that is perceived as meaningful from a theoretical perspective, we used Levasseur and colleagues’ (2010) taxonomy and found that such involvement creates a sense of connectedness, a sense of belonging and relates to the concepts of social integration, social networking and social engagement. This type of involvement is associated with enhanced quality of life and a more meaningful life, highlighting the importance of creating environments where older adults can socially connect.

YSO-asiasanat: ikääntyneet; ikääntyminen; vanhuus; osallistuminen; sosiaalinen vuorovaikutus; elämänlaatu; hyvinvointi; mielekkyys

Vapaat asiasanat: social participation; meaningfulness; senior housing; autonomy; quality of life

Liittyvät organisaatiot

OKM-raportointi: Kyllä

Raportointivuosi: 2023

JUFO-taso: 1