IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i13p7660-d845605.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mature and Older Adults’ Perception of Active Ageing and the Need for Supporting Services: Insights from a Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina Barbaccia

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Laura Bravi

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Federica Murmura

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Savelli

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

  • Elena Viganò

    (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 42, 61029 Urbino, Italy)

Abstract

The improvement in life expectancy, economic conditions, and technological and medical progress have radically changed the demographic structure of many societies. Since many countries now have an ageing population, by adopting a life-course study perspective, this paper aims to explore the needs of older adults (over 60), and the currently adult population which will become older in the coming decades (50–60 years). In detail, the study investigates the lifestyles of the target populations by focusing on two main areas concerning health (healthy diet; attitudes towards physical activity) and socio-relational-housing and living conditions (social housing, senior co-housing in rural environments, etc.). A qualitative study was carried out based on 16 in-depth interviews developed over one month (February 2022). The conduct of the interviews was supported by the Italian Center for Sensory Analysis (CIAS). Emerging from the results, the concept of active ageing is perceived by mature and older adults in a positive and optimistic way. The sample considered want to re-engage in life, continuing to be active, useful, and maintaining their self-esteem, social life and independence. However, despite older people’s major concerns being preserve their physical abilities and social integration, this target group adopts behaviours focused more on current well-being rather than worrying too much about how this well-being will change as they age.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Barbaccia & Laura Bravi & Federica Murmura & Elisabetta Savelli & Elena Viganò, 2022. "Mature and Older Adults’ Perception of Active Ageing and the Need for Supporting Services: Insights from a Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7660-:d:845605
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7660/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7660/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Weaver, S. Todd & Moschis, George P. & Davis, Teresa, 2011. "Antecedents of materialism and compulsive buying: A life course study in Australia," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 247-256.
    2. Katja Rusinovic & Marianne van Bochove & Jolien van de Sande, 2019. "Senior Co-Housing in the Netherlands: Benefits and Drawbacks for Its Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Cristina Bosch-Farré & Maria Carmen Malagón-Aguilera & David Ballester-Ferrando & Carme Bertran-Noguer & Anna Bonmatí-Tomàs & Sandra Gelabert-Vilella & Dolors Juvinyà-Canal, 2020. "Healthy Ageing in Place: Enablers and Barriers from the Perspective of the Elderly. A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Sara Marsillas & Liesbeth Donder & Tinie Kardol & Sofie Regenmortel & Sarah Dury & Dorien Brosens & An-Sofie Smetcoren & Teresa Braña & Jesús Varela, 2017. "Does active ageing contribute to life satisfaction for older people? Testing a new model of active ageing," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 295-310, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Klaudia Przybysz & Agnieszka Stanimir, 2023. "How Active Are European Seniors—Their Personal Ways to Active Ageing? Is Seniors’ Activity in Line with the Expectations of the Active Ageing Strategy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Laura Ponce de León & Jean Pierre Lévy Mangin & Soledad Ballesteros, 2020. "Psychosocial Determinants of Quality of Life and Active Aging. A Structural Equation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Helen Duh & Sarah Benmoyal-Bouzaglo & George Moschis & Lilia Smaoui, 2015. "Examination of Young Adults’ Materialism in France and South Africa Using Two Life-Course Theoretical Perspectives," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 251-262, June.
    3. Elena Del Barrio & Sara Marsillas & Tine Buffel & An-Sofie Smetcoren & Mayte Sancho, 2018. "From Active Aging to Active Citizenship: The Role of (Age) Friendliness," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Anna-Maria Lahti & Tuija M. Mikkola & Minna Salonen & Niko Wasenius & Anneli Sarvimäki & Johan G. Eriksson & Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff, 2021. "Mental, Physical and Social Functioning in Independently Living Senior House Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Amy H. I. Lee & He-Yau Kang, 2019. "A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Senior Daycare Center Locations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Joost van Hoof & Hannah R. Marston, 2021. "Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: State of the Art and Future Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    7. José Álvarez-García & Amador Durán-Sánchez & María de la Cruz Del Río-Rama & Diego Fernando García-Vélez, 2018. "Active Ageing: Mapping of Scientific Coverage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Helen Inseng Duh & Hong Yu & Yuefeng Ni, 2021. "Chinese Millenials' happiness and materialism: Explanations from two life‐course theories, self‐esteem, and money‐attitudes," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 1306-1332, December.
    9. Ines Mouchaers & Hilde Verbeek & Gertrudis I. J. M. Kempen & Jolanda C. M. Haastregt & Ellen Vlaeyen & Geert Goderis & Silke F. Metzelthin, 2022. "The concept of disability and its causal mechanisms in older people over time from a theoretical perspective: a literature review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 397-411, September.
    10. Rashmi Singh & J.K. Nayak, 2016. "The Effects of Stress and Human Capital Perspective on Compulsive Buying: A Life Course Study in India," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 17(6), pages 1454-1468, December.
    11. Georgiana Cristina TOMA (ROSU) & Gabriela TUCHILUS, 2018. "What Are The Effects Of Active Ageing On Gdp Per Capita?," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 12(1), pages 611-619, November.
    12. Joost van Hoof & Deirdre M. Beneken genaamd Kolmer & Erwin de Vlugt & Sanne I. de Vries, 2019. "Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-7, December.
    13. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Sabrina Quattrini & Giovanni Lamura & Marco Socci, 2021. "A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Care Arrangements of Older People with Limited Physical Abilities Living Alone in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-35, December.
    14. Emine Öztürk, 2021. "The Comparision of Classical Ethical Theories in Ancient Greece Philosophy and Islamic Philosophy: The Example of Aristotle and Ibn Miskavayh, Tusi and Kinalizade," European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 6, January -.
    15. Mihaela Ghenţa & Aniela Matei & Luise Mladen-Macovei & Simona Stănescu, 2022. "Quality of Life of Older Persons: The Role and Challenges of Social Services Providers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-18, July.
    16. George P. Moschis & Anil Mathur & Randall Shannon, 2020. "Toward Achieving Sustainable Food Consumption: Insights from the Life Course Paradigm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    17. Davide Lucantoni & Andrea Principi & Marco Socci & Marina Zannella & Francesco Barbabella, 2022. "Active Ageing in Italy: An Evidence-Based Model to Provide Recommendations for Policy Making and Policy Implementation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, February.
    18. María Antonia Parra-Rizo & Gema Sanchís-Soler, 2021. "Physical Activity and the Improvement of Autonomy, Functional Ability, Subjective Health, and Social Relationships in Women over the Age of 60," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    19. Per H. Jensen & Jakob Skjøtt-Larsen, 2021. "Theoretical Challenges and Social Inequalities in Active Ageing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-16, August.
    20. Pilar Monton & Luisa-Eugenia Reyes & Carlos-María Alcover, 2022. "Personal Characteristics for Successful Senior Cohousing: A Proposed Theoretical Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7660-:d:845605. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.