Forms of Forms of community community

participation participation among older among older

peoplepeopleTrajectories and paths

RIHSC ~ Research Institute for Health and Social Change – Manchester Metropolitan University

JUDITH SIXSMITH

LUANA VALLETTA

RIHSC CONFERENCE - 1 st July 2011

THEORICAL THEORICAL BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Silent Revolution> Populations are growing older in most of the countries around the world: this trend has characterized the age structure of developed countries for well over a century.At present, over 60s represent the 20,1% of the Italian population and ¼ of the voting people. It is estimated that in 2040 31,3% of italian population will be composed of people aged 65 and over characterized by good qualitiy of life, health and less disability then the past. In the UUKK it is estimated that by 2034 23% of the population will be aged 65 and over (see figure below).

UK population projections for 2034 are ONS National Population Projections (NPP) 2008 based.

FORMS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AMONG OLDER PEOPLE: TRAJECTORIES

AND PATHS Preliminary findings

A thematic analysis of interview

transcripts form the ENABLE-AGE

project (UK, 2003);

Qualitative data from an Italian research

(Trajectories of over 60s’ social and

political participation in Cesena; 2010);

An ongoing literature review of current debates on older

people’s community

participation

A lot of authors associate A lot of authors associate successful aging successful aging withwith social participationsocial participation, i.e. , i.e. active engagment in active engagment in social and community life social and community life (Rowe, Khan, 1987; Freund, Baltes, (Rowe, Khan, 1987; Freund, Baltes, 2002; Gerstorf, Smith, Baltes, 2006). 2002; Gerstorf, Smith, Baltes, 2006).

Social participation Social participation the process by which the the process by which the community is actualized, negotiated and eventually community is actualized, negotiated and eventually modified modified (“(“actualization of the community”actualization of the community” Campbell and Jovchelovitch, 2000)Campbell and Jovchelovitch, 2000)

TheThe community participation community participation in volunteer in volunteer activities is an activities is an important predictor important predictor of older of older people`s people`s life satisfaction, quality of life and life satisfaction, quality of life and well being well being (Harlow, Cantor, 1996: Cotterill et al, (Harlow, Cantor, 1996: Cotterill et al, 2001) 2001) with benefits for both physical and with benefits for both physical and psychologicalpsychological health health andand higher levels in the higher levels in the perception of social support. perception of social support. (Freedman, 1999; (Freedman, 1999; Carstensen, 1995; 2004).Carstensen, 1995; 2004).

OLDER PEOPLE PARTICIPATIONOLDER PEOPLE PARTICIPATION

Key for a SAKey for a SA: having an active role in the society, keeping and : having an active role in the society, keeping and experiencing a high sense of competence and control over lifeexperiencing a high sense of competence and control over life. . (Midlarsky, 1991; Herzog, 1998). (Midlarsky, 1991; Herzog, 1998).

PROACTIVEPROACTIVELeading a group; coordinating Leading a group; coordinating

organization and designates either organization and designates either direct and personal contributions to direct and personal contributions to

civil society with important and civil society with important and proactive roles for promoting change proactive roles for promoting change and improving the quality of life of and improving the quality of life of

others in the communityothers in the community

ACTIVEACTIVEMembership in various group, Membership in various group,

associtations and socially oriented associtations and socially oriented sharing of time. Resources. And sharing of time. Resources. And

ideas. Usually taking place in ideas. Usually taking place in organized structures.organized structures.

PERIPHERALPERIPHERALBeing in and around , where Being in and around , where

shopping, sitting in the park or shopping, sitting in the park or watching the “world going by” are watching the “world going by” are

mentioned in terms of personal mentioned in terms of personal involment in community eventsinvolment in community events

En

gag

em

en

tEn

gag

em

en

t

PRELIMINAR PRELIMINAR FINDINGSFINDINGS

Active and Proactive ParticipationActive and Proactive Participation•Ageing does not exist (or is just one of the phases of the adulthood).•Ageing starts when you stop participating in social life.•Ageing starts when you feel old and useless.

SENIOR RESOURCESSENIOR RESOURCESBeing an important resource for their families and communities (experience, social capital

and knowledge)

SOCIAL REPRESENTATIOS OF AGEING SOCIAL REPRESENTATIOS OF AGEING ::

Peripheral ParticipationPeripheral Participation

•Feeling old, without energy and not useful•“I reached the expiration date”

MOTIVATIONSMOTIVATIONS

More spare More spare time available, time available, the the necessity to look for a new necessity to look for a new social role.social role.

The need to “be out there”, The need to “be out there”, to give to give a a social contribution, to help, to social contribution, to help, to feel feel usefuluseful

BENEFITSBENEFITSNew New relationships, frienships relationships, frienships Feeling useful, socially Feeling useful, socially valuedvalued,, alive alive Relativization of one’s own Relativization of one’s own problems problems New competences, knows-New competences, knows-out , skillsout , skillsChallengesChallenges

TO VOTETO VOTETool ~ Right ~DutyTool ~ Right ~Duty

TO BE INFORMEDTO BE INFORMEDA tool for: A tool for: •Understand ingbetter,Understand ingbetter,•Remaining involved and Remaining involved and integrated in the societyintegrated in the society

is associated with

is associated withis associated with

is cause of

is associated with

is associated with

is associated with

is associated with

is associated with

is associated with

is associated with

CF:Rappresentante di quartiere

spronata nel fare di più e meglio

sentirsi vivi

aiutato a continuare a vivere

pregresse esperienze di volontariato

maggiore tempo libero

i partiti devono stare tra le gentedisgregazione sociale- problema nelcontesto

vedovanza

relazione con la gente

iscrizione partito

continuare qualcosa che facevo con miomarito

simpatizzante di un partito

gratitudine della gente

figli grandi

accettazione

Example of transition to proactive political Example of transition to proactive political participationparticipation

previous volunteer experiences

Sympathetic of a political

party

widowhood

continue a shared

passion with her late husband

More More time time

availableavailable

Join in political party

District representative

Political party need to stay with the

people

Social problem

Help to continue live

Feel aliverelationship

Gratitude of the people

social acceptability

spurred in making better

Sons grown up

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Preliminary findings show that several physical, psychological, social and environmental factors can influence the different ways in which older people experience community participation.

Among the physical, psychological and social factors: people’s bodily changes, self-efficacy, experience, time available, requirement to redefine social roles and their need to feel useful. Environmental factors include the presence of public transportation. The presence of organization particular policy for promote or help the process of participation.

Civic engagementCivic engagement can promote the construction of new sociael can promote the construction of new sociael

roles, goals, interpersonal and cognitive stimula, such as becoming roles, goals, interpersonal and cognitive stimula, such as becoming

a source of psychological and physical health and for the a source of psychological and physical health and for the

community at large.community at large.

THANKSTHANKS!!For the attentionFor the attention

Questions Questions &&

suggestionssuggestions

• 20th Semi-structured qualitative qualitative interviewsinterviews

• AnalyzedAnalyzed with with ATLAS.ti ATLAS.ti Software Software • Themes coded in six broad Themes coded in six broad

categoriescategories

Partecipants: Average age 67.5 Partecipants: Average age 67.5 Still active in volunteering and political Still active in volunteering and political

activities. activities.

• Social representations of ageing and ideas for projects

• Social & political participation• “Glocal “context• Social network and perceived social support• Life satisfatcion and future planning• Perceived health

OTHER INFOOTHER INFO: Only the : Only the 45% 45% had done volunteer work even before retirement.

OVER 60S’ SOCIAL AND POLITICAL OVER 60S’ SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN ITALY AND THE UK: PARTICIPATION IN ITALY AND THE UK:

SAMPLES AND METHODSSAMPLES AND METHODS

ENABLE~AGE PROJECT UK, 2003ENABLE~AGE PROJECT UK, 2003

PARTICIPANTSPARTICIPANTS20 th old people 20° very old people??20 th old people 20° very old people??

““Very old” people with different kinds of participation living alone at homeVery old” people with different kinds of participation living alone at home

Trajectories of social participation in Trajectories of social participation in Italy, 2010Italy, 2010

The aim of the ENABLE-AGE project was to explore the relationship between home and healthy ageing. The in-depth studies approached this task from the perspectives of 40th

KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTShome, independence, participation,health and well-being and societal supports