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Older adults’ experiences of maintaining social participation: Creating opportunities and striving to adapt to changing situations
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Learning and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2403-4761
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Learning and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8513-0338
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Learning and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9143-9235
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Learning and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0467-4857
2022 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, ISSN 1103-8128, E-ISSN 1651-2014, Vol. 29, no 7, p. 587-597Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background

Social participation concerns the possibility of engaging in activities in interaction with others or society at large and contributes to the health and well-being of older adults. In contrast, a lack of social participation is associated with loneliness. It is, therefore, important to understand what strategies older adults use to maintain social participation.

Aim

To explore and describe older adults’ experiences of maintaining social participation.

Materials and methods

Nine older adults, aged 69–92 years, participated in interviews that were analysed through qualitative content analysis.

Results

The overall findings reflect how older adults create opportunities for social participation by developing strategies and striving to adapt to changing situations, emphasizing how maintaining social participation is an active process. Preserving social participation requires motivation and an effort to take initiative to cultivate social relations, maintain community bonds, engage in social events and activities and stay connected with society.

Conclusions and significance

These results may extend our understanding of strategies that older adults use, as well as the challenges they face when striving to adapt to new circumstances. This study may have implications for the practice of how to support older adults’ social participation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022. Vol. 29, no 7, p. 587-597
Keywords [en]
Active ageing, COVID-19, healthy ageing, social engagement, qualitative
National Category
Occupational Therapy
Research subject
Occupational therapy
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-87071DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2021.1974550ISI: 000695616600001PubMedID: 34499845Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85114611889OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-87071DiVA, id: diva2:1593761
Note

Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-09-23 (joosat);

Available from: 2021-09-14 Created: 2021-09-14 Last updated: 2024-08-28Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Fostering social participation when ageing
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Fostering social participation when ageing
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Alternative title[sv]
Främjande av social delaktighet under åldrandet
Abstract [en]

Social participation is an important part of an active and healthy ageing. However, the possibilities for social participation often change during ageing due to changing life situations. Additionally, shifts in society such as the digital development also have an impact on the possibilities for social participation. Thus, the overall aim of this thesis is to contribute with knowledge and understanding of how social participation can be fostered when ageing. 

The thesis is informed by four qualitative studies. Study I utilized qualitative content analysis, and older adults were interviewed about maintaining and developing social participation. A grounded theory design was used in study II exploring older adults’ experiences of participating in health promoting ‘social online meetings’. Study III also utilized a grounded theory design and explored the process of co-creating knowledge of information and communication technologies [ICT] for social participation. Study IV was conducted using focus group methodology, exploring possibilities to foster social participation among older adults from the perspective of stakeholders in society.

The findings contribute with an understanding of how older adults strive to maintain social participation by developing strategies and adapting to new circumstances when ageing (study I). Further, how group initiatives such as “social online meeting” can offer opportunities to discover facets of social participation that contributes to changes in everyday life (study II). Moreover, how a co-creating process of using ICT for social participation can facilitate learning and the development of agency (study III). Finally, findings show how stakeholders in society identified common challenges to meet changing needs when ageing, and emphasized collaboration and knowledge sharing in society as essential to foster social participation (study IV).

To conclude, the findings reflect how older adults’ social participation is an active process that changes overtime; influenced by situational and contextual aspects. Sharing knowledge and experiences among older adults within group initiatives using ICT have the potential to foster social participation. Furthermore, fostering social participation requires collaboration among different stakeholders in society. From an occupational perspective, fostering social participation when ageing can be regarded as a matter of occupational justice highlighting the importance to take advantage of collective and social approaches. 

 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå: Luleå tekniska universitet, 2024
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology 1 jan 1997 → …, ISSN 1402-1544
Keywords
active ageing, healthy ageing, ICT, occupational justice, occupational therapy, older adults, qualitative, social participation, stakeholders
National Category
Occupational Therapy
Research subject
Occupational Therapy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-108975 (URN)978-91-8048-621-7 (ISBN)978-91-8048-622-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-10-25, E632, Luleå tekniska universitet, Luleå, 09:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-08-28 Created: 2024-08-28 Last updated: 2024-10-04Bibliographically approved

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Löfgren, MariaLarsson, EllinorIsaksson, GunillaNyman, Anneli

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