S3: Quality of Life and Psychological Strengths of Older People

Abstract

Symposium Overview

Background:

Aging has traditionally been studied from loss, disease, and dependency, limiting the conceptualization of Quality of Life (QoL) to health. The population group of older people characterize by its heterogeneity in which many older adults experience gains and age with good physical, psychological and social conditions. Ignoring these aspects can lead to ageism. It is necessary to offer a change of perspective in which older adults’ QoL is analyzed from a multidimensional perspective where not only losses are taken into account but also the strengths of the person and the satisfaction of their higher needs (self-fulfillment, control, autonomy and pleasure).

Research Objective:

This symposium aims to develop an assessment to improve QoL in older people through the promotion of their strengths.

Method:

Four studies from different Spanish and Portuguese universities were presented

Preliminary results on the ongoing study:

Older people have psychological strengths that enhance QoL.

Conclusion:

This symposium seeks to promote QoL in older people from a change of perspective based on strengths in a society for all ages, in line with the decade of healthy aging (2021-2030) approved by the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly. Aging implies a range of personal and material losses to which older people must adapt to maintain adequate levels of QoL. The stress model of Lazarus and Folkman (1984) states that the impact of stress on the person depends on the resources that they use to face the factors associated with stress. Previous research has supported the protective role of reminiscence, personal growth, digital skills, psychological well-being, acceptance, resilience, gratitude, and family functioning in QoL. Likewise, interventions focused on these variables have shown an increase in QoL. However, studies based on a strengths model are still very limited in older people.