Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship

By Alex Sander Alcântara

Agência FAPESP - A study done with women from the age of 60 involved at least one year of programs for seniors indicated that involvement in such initiatives can work together to maintain the good quality of life and psychological well-being.

The survey results, published in the journal Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas), also showed that the greater the time to participate in the programs was the lowest intensity of the triggering factors of depression. With more than a year of program there was a better perception of quality of life in the physical, psychological and social.

For the psychologist Tatiana Quarti Irigaray, coautora of the article, the interaction of participants with their colleagues and with the team coordinator makes the elderly feel more confident of their own potential, to more positive attitudes in relation to themselves.

"Participation is reflected, among other things, the reduction of loneliness, at best self, the acquisition of new knowledge and to fill in the time with pleasant activities. The main point is that participation contributes positively to the quality of life of older people and for the reduction of depressive symptoms, acting as a possible predictor of a successful old age, "said Tatiana the Agency FAPESP.

The study is the author's Masters thesis, which integrates the technical team of the University of the Third Age (Unit), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. The other author of the article is Rodolfo Herberto Schneider, professor and member of the Coordinating Committee of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, who currently directs the doctorate of Tatiana.

The United program is a successful example of the continuing education program geared solely to public elder. There, participants are encouraged to restore and maintain the autonomy and independence that are essential for a good quality of life in old age.

"Autonomy is defined here as the exercise of self and independence is to survive without assistance for the activities of day-to-day and self," said Tatiana. Participants 103 women aged 60 or older, who met the request of the study.

According to the researcher, the only female participation is due to the fact that the presence of men in groups of living of the elderly is negligible, not total 5%, although they meet a third of the population 75 years of monitoring.

A possible explanation for the difference in participation may be related to differences between men and women regarding their representation of aging and how they perceive themselves and those changes.

"The longer life of women is attributed to greater tendency to self, and seek medical care throughout the life, the greater level of social support that they enjoy and less biological vulnerability throughout life. Older women tend to have health problems of long duration, chronic and disabling, while older men tend to develop fatal disease of short duration, "said Tatiana.

Consequently, the elderly are more likely to be widowed than men and do not remarry after widowhood. In Brazil, there is a ratio of almost five women widows for every widower man.

"Maybe the loneliness caused by widowhood is one of the reasons for the demand of these groups," said Tatiana. In the study, participants had a mean age of 69.2 years, 44.7% were widows, 40.8% had higher income and 38.8% had 6 to 10 minimum wages.

Social network

One of the limitations of the study, according to psychologists, is that the sample was composed, mostly, by women with high education and income, which does not reflect the reality of other groups of elderly.

"Secondly, the sample was recruited by convenience. Possibly, the elderly participating in these programs have different characteristics from those not participating. Because of this, it is necessary to make further studies with other groups, "he emphasized.

Among the factors that can trigger depression in the elderly is the lack or loss of social contacts, past history of depression, widowhood, stressful life events with, institutionalization in asylum homes and low income.

The study suggests that participation in programs for seniors contributes positively to the quality of life of elderly and the decrease of depressive symptoms. But the residence time is a determining factor. The authors suggest that probably the biggest time of participation must promote the establishment of a greater social network and higher quality.

"The social network, won with a time of participation, consisting of colleagues, help to cushion the negative impacts of emotional problems such as diseases and loss of people dear. With her, realizes that the elderly are not alone, that has to tell, feeling of security resulting from new friendships, the sense of belonging and integration, "said Tatiana.

To read the article Impact on quality of life and depression in the elderly participants of a university of the third age, Tatiana Quarti Irigaray and Rodolfo Herberto Schneider, available in the library online SciELO (BIREME / FAPESP), click here.




Source: Fapesp

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