Envelhecimento, qualidade de vida e bem-estar subjetivo: percepções de idosos participantes de um grupo social

Abstract

The aim of this study is to portray the experience of aging from the perspective of the elderly, addressing the theme of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and Quality of Life (QOL) in the light of the lifespan theory. The Cross-sectional study of a qualitative and quantitative nature was conducted with 80 elderly people of both sexes, participating in a social group of the elderly within an important Brazilian institution, in the city of Bertioga. For data collection, a sociodemographic questionnaire and three instruments of a quantitative nature were applied, internationally validated and a semi-structured interview, with analysis by the hermeneutic-dialectic method. Despite being preliminary results, it is possible to affirm that elderly people are concerned with the maintenance of an active and independent life, demonstrating that being engaged in social and leisure activities, feeling belonging to a group and respected by society is of fundamental importance for their life satisfaction assessment. It is hoped that the study can contribute with a new look at human development, considering the subjectivity present in aging, since the issues related to this process are complex and require greater attention to the creation and enforcement of policies focused on promotion of health.