A research project submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of arts in psychology through the Faculty of humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg / Socio-cultural factors and contexts influence sexuality and associated practices across the life course. Few studies have questioned what constitutes sexuality, sexual pleasure, and notions of risky sexual practices, and how elderly people engage in help-seeking for sexual health promotion and problem-solving. In response to the dearth of such research in Africa, this thesis explores the cultural interpretations, values, beliefs, and embodied practices associated with sexuality and help-seeking behaviour among urban-dwelling elderly Yoruba people (60–80 years and above) in the city of Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. In addition, it investigates healthcare providers’ (biomedical and traditional) perceptions of sexuality and the prevention, treatment, and promotion of sexual health in old age. The thesis is rooted in Bourdieu’s social practice theory, Harré and Langenhove social positioning theory and an anthropological perspective on age-graded sexualities. From an interpretative constructivist framework, the thesis adopts an exploratory sequential mixed design. The design entails collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data in a single study. The choice of research design was informed by the perspective that diverse but relevant methodological positions opens the window into contextual understanding of sexuality in old age. The qualitative data consists of 12 vignettes based on focus group discussion (FGD) with three categories (60-69, 70-79 and 80 years and above) of 107 elderly men and women. From a thematic analysis, the FGD findings informed the conduct of 18 semi-structured interviews on equal proportion with elderly men and women (60+) and 11 semi-structured interviews with 2 healthcare providers (biomedicine and traditional medical systems). Subsequently, the thematic findings from the FGDs and interviews informed the development of a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered among 252 elderly Yoruba people (60+). The findings reveal a dominance normative beliefs and cultural expectations around bodily changes characterised the gendered differences in sexual experiences and expectations in old age. From the exemplary perspective, the ‘good old age’ connotes compliance with normative sexual orientations, beliefs, and practices. The qualitative and quantitative results affirmed the existence and engagement in penetrative and pleasurable sex at differentiated degrees for elderly men and women. The qualitative findings reveal a lack of consensus regarding the age elderly women or men should disengage from sexual activities. The survey shows that more women (75.8%) than men (54%) agreed that elderly people of their age should stop having sex. The qualitative findings also reveal that health challenges, psychosocial satisfactions in marriage, differences in sexual prowess, and financial independence affect engagement and desires in sexual activities. Two-thirds (60.3%) of the survey respondents also agreed that elderly men and women should engage in sexual activities if their health allows. The body as a ‘site of moral action’ places elderly women and men at differentiated positions within heterosexual normativity. From a disadvantaged stance, sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman can result in a folk sexual dysfunction known as idakole (poor erection and quick ejaculation) for men. Furthermore, sex with menstruating or menopausal women could cause loss of spiritual powers for men. These views resonate with some taboos on sex and efficacy of some traditional medicine. As a form of contestation, bodily changes during menopause represent a period of abstaining, suppressing or disengaging from obligatory sexual duties. It also affords women the avenue to avoid the experience of oyun iju (a socially constructed folk pregnancy). As a counter reaction, menopause also provides valid positions 3 for some sexually active elderly men to seek new intimate relations with younger women. By expounding on the privileged position of men, the findings portray a normative view that elongates men’s sexual retirement until death. Without doubting the possibilities of losing sexual prowess with age, the use of traditional aphrodisiacs was perceived to improve sexual performance and pleasures. Such measures are scarce for women, except those that could aid male’s sexual pleasures when used by women like ado dun (pleasurable and irresistible vagina sex). In this light, the thesis argues that the differentiated gendered framing of bodily changes and sexuality take the body as a moral and health site to arrive at an interpretation of old age that could influence ageing experience as ‘good’ or ‘miserable’. The findings also show that the premium on penetrative sex and pleasures create differentiated opportunities for elderly men to contract sexual infections. The possibilities of contracting sexual infections among sexually active elderly people was not doubted. Gonorrhoea, syphilis and magun (a folk sexual infection) emerged as common examples of sexual infections among old and young in the study settings. Gonorrhoea and syphilis can be treated via biomedicine and traditional medicine. Magun and HIV are untreated sexual infections but are preventable through sexual abstinence and use of traditional medical measures. Traditional preventive measures such as onde (amulet), ajesara (incisions and digestible concoctions) perform dual functions: prevent disease and guarantee pleasurable sex. Both qualitative and quantitative results reveal that condom use can prevent sexually transmitted infections. However, condom use was also conceived to reduce sexual pleasures for men and women. In this direction, the survey results affirm that condom use can reduce sexual pleasures for elderly men (77.8%) and women (22.2%), respectively. More than average (55.7%) of the female and about one-third (44.3%) of the male respondents also perceive the condom as more useful for younger people. 4 With the possibilities of contracting sexual infections, the qualitative findings affirm that aetiological explanations around a sexual health problem can act as a constraint and also facilitate medical help-seeking. Also, shameful feelings, stigma, and unstable or poor financial conditions inhibit responsive help-seeking. More than one-third (49.6%) of the survey respondents perceived doctors’ indifference as a constraint. This was followed by shame (22.6%), neglect from other family members (10.7%) and neglect of children (10.3%). Contraction of sexual infection in old age can also lead to withdrawal of quality support from significant others. The thesis argues that the social framework of the exemplary elder influence post-reproductive sexual health outcomes within the study context. Healthcare providers from the two medical systems acknowledged the need for post-reproductive sexual health care services. Such services were, however, perceived along the gender divide as more elderly males than females expressed and sought help from both systems. The provisions of post-reproductive sexual health services within the biomedical system attracted some pluses. A few of the female participants acknowledge the efforts of biomedical trained physicians and nurses in creating awareness on how to overcome menopausal challenges. The findings highlight that socio-cultural understandings of the intersections among ageing, sexuality, and gender influence framing of sexual health needs and unequal sexual health outcomes in old age. The possibility of such influences lie in cultural conceptions of the ideal body and the appropriate timing of sexual activities. Such normative views therefore influence how elderly people make sense of bodily changes, their sexuality, help-seeking, and response to sexual health needs from health care providers. Healthcare professionals from both medical systems are also prone to the influence of normative social frameworks in responding to post-reproductive sexual health needs. With the need to achieve a healthy ageing population and the 5 existing gaps in post-reproductive sexual health services, this thesis argues that normative beliefs, values and practices around sexuality influence sexual experiences, practices, dispositions to sexual infections, availability and access to post-reproductive sexual healthcare services within the study settings. Public enlightenment around sexual rights across the life course are needed to complement a review of existing sexual healthcare services in Nigeria. It will also improve the therapeutic relations between professional healthcare providers and their elderly clients. These initiatives can position professional healthcare providers for responsive diagnosis, prevention and management of post-reproductive sexual health needs and a possible realisation of healthy ageing population in Nigeria. / GR2017

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The aim of this study was to explore women's perceptions of ageing in order to shed light on how individual women feel about getting older. The qualitative interpretive research paradigm was chosen for the purposes of this study. In-depth interviews were held with three women who gave their accounts of their perceptions of ageing. The data was analysed using hermeneutic thematic analysis. The accounts of the participants were reconstructed in terms of themes which emerged. Recurring themes in the accounts of all three participants were linked with the literature. This study provided rich descriptions of women's perceptions of ageing and helped to create new insights and meanings both for the participants and the readers. The information gained could serve as guidelines for clinical practice and future research. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

This study explored the healthy aging process by: (a) examining the selected demographics of older adults in South Florida; (b) examining technology use of older adults in South Florida; (c) examining the health literacy levels of older adults in South Florida; (d) determining whether a relationship exists between older adults living in South Florida use of technology and their health literacy levels; and (e) evaluating the effects of health literacy as it relates to technology use in older adults in South Florida. Variables explored included health literacy, education, ethnicity, and technology use. The sample study included 102 older adults (age > 60) living in South Florida that had completed profiles on the South Florida Quality Aging Registry, a part of the Healthy Aging Research Initiative (HARI). The sample size represented 22.3% of the total South Florida Quality Aging Registry population. The ethnicities of the participants among the South Florida Quality Aging Registry were African American (17%); Afro Caribbean (7.8%); Hispanic (10.7%); and European American (63.7%). The education mean was 15, indicating that the majority of participants had an education level equivalent to completing high school. The mean health literacy score was 3.88, demonstrating that the majority of the participants had moderate levels of health literacy. The mean technology use score was 7.5 on a scale of one through ten, indicating that the majority of the participants had a moderate level of technology use. Analysis of variance, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis was used to explore the variables that may influence health literacy. There was a statistically significant difference among Afro Caribbean and African American, Afro Caribbean and European American, European American and Hispanic ethnicities related to their health literacy skill level (p < .01). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference among Afro Caribbean American and European American ethnicities and technology use (p. < .01). / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-10-06T12:49:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juçara Pereira da Costa Neves.pdf: 1847952 bytes, checksum: d72563f886f832d014805a6283b78144 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-06T12:49:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juçara Pereira da Costa Neves.pdf: 1847952 bytes, checksum: d72563f886f832d014805a6283b78144 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research addresses issues related to prejudice and discrimination of people aged 40 or over in the work context and the challenges faced by these individuals at the time and a possible professional relocation at that stage of human life. For this, a bibliographical research was conducted on issues related to human aging, global longevity and longevity in Brazil, organizational diversity, people management, work, labor market, individual, social psychology and ethics. A quantitative-descriptive research was also performed with data obtained through an online questionnaire, answered by 56 professionals aged 40 years or over. First, the statistical analysis was based on the presentation and description of the frequency diagrams corresponding to the data collected for the various questions formulated. As a complementary study, the chi-square test of independence was applied in order to verify the existence or not of association between certain variables. The data revealed that professionals aged 40 and over perceived the existence of prejudice and age discrimination in the work context, as well as several challenges faced during the professional relocation process after 40 years of age. This research aims to contribute to discussions and new studies focused on this topic. In addition, this study aims to assist professionals in the area of social Psychology, human resources and/or people management, promoting information and reflection on the subject, in order to work for social inclusion in companies of people with that age group / Esta pesquisa aborda questões relacionadas ao preconceito e discriminação de pessoas com 40 ou mais anos de idade no contexto de trabalho e os desafios enfrentados por esses indivíduos no momento e uma possível recolocação profissional nessa fase da vida do ser humano. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre questões ligadas ao envelhecimento humano, à longevidade global e longevidade no Brasil, à diversidade organizacional, à gestão de pessoas, ao trabalho, mercado de trabalho, indivíduo, psicologia social e ética. Foi realizada também uma pesquisa quantitativa-descritiva com dados obtidos através de questionário on-line, respondido por 56 profissionais com 40 ou mais anos de idade. Primeiramente, a análise estatística baseou-se na apresentação e descrição dos diagramas de frequências correspondentes aos dados coletados para as várias questões formuladas. Como estudo complementar, aplicou-se o Teste Qui-Quadrado de independência com o objetivo de se verificar a existência ou não de associação entre determinadas variáveis. Os dados revelaram que os profissionais de 40 ou mais anos de idade percebem a existência de preconceito e discriminação etária no contexto de trabalho, assim como vários desafios enfrentados durante o processo de recolocação profissional após os 40 anos de idade. A pesquisa em questão pretende contribuir para discussões e novos estudos voltados para este tema. Além disso, este estudo pretende auxiliar os profissionais da área de psicologia social, recursos humanos e/ou gestão de pessoas, promovendo informação e reflexão sobre o tema, com o intuito de trabalharem a inclusão social nas empresas de pessoas com a referida faixa etária

This thesis project explores social constructions of aging women within Women’s Health magazine. There is limited scholarly literature on representations of aging women within popular health/fitness media, such as magazines. The limited current research which does exist suggests that aging women are subjected to negative stereotypes and gendered myths within our societal and cultural values with respect to aging (Vertinsky, 1994). Media representations are strong and pervasive reflections of societal norms and expectations and may impact the way women view themselves. I therefore undertook a Foucaultian discourse analysis of Women’s Health magazine to examine if/how gendered constructions of aging are functioning within representations of health directed to women of all ages. I found that Women’s Health reproduces aging women as useless, failures, problems to be managed, and other to normative femininity. Women’s Health reinforces that aging can and should be managed through the consumption of anti-aging products, procedures, and surgeries endorsed within the magazine. / v, 125 leaves ; 29 cm

Older Americans will comprise 22.9% of the population by the year 2050 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989). The literature has focused attention on the informal networks and leisure activities of the older adult. Most older adults have an effective network of close relationships with family and friends.Schein (1985) suggests that impaired hearing reduces communication resulting in social withdrawal and diminished participation in leisure activities. Only recently has research addressed the impact of subjective memory impairment. The literature on self-reported memory complaints and objective measures of performance are mixed.The purpose of this study was to better understand the role self-reported hearing impairment and memory impairment have on the social contact and leisure activities of community adults. Results indicate that gender is a significant indicator of social contact. The hypothesis that individuals reporting memory difficulties would differ significantly in social contact and leisure activities from unimpaired individuals was supported. No significant multivariate effect appeared for hearing on social contact or leisure activities. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The social aspects of older adults lives are strongly linked to well-being outcomes. Social relationships in older adulthood are rewarding, but also complex, and to maintain a positive social environment, older adults must reconcile long relationships histories, negotiate changing roles, and deal with increasing dependencies. Older adults are known to be particularly effective at regulating their social environments under these circumstances to maximize satisfaction, but some are more successful than others. Older adults manage their social environments through processes of relationship regulation, where individuals actively work towards social goals to customize their social environments and close relationships to meet developmental and emotional needs. Importantly, relationship regulation is embedded in older adults’ social environments, which are not only an outcome, but also the context that inspires, motivates, and hinders efforts to change the social environment. Within the proximal social environment older adults may experience support, hindrance, and satisfying contact with close social partners. Although supportive social environments are related to health and well-being in old age, and evidence suggests that older adults regulate their relationships, little is known about how these goals are worked towards and achieved on a daily basis and within the context of older adults' daily lives. The current study had two distinct aims: (a) to understand the intraindividual processes of regulating social goals within daily context of the social environment; and (b) to examine how interindividual differences predict between-person differences in social regulatory processes. Specifically, this study investigated the degree to which older adults depend on daily support and contact with a close social partner to make progress towards a meaningful social goal, and also the extent to which perceptions of social hindrance impede goal progress. On an interindividual level, this study examined how differences in the proximal social environment and goal orientation are linked to differences in social regulatory processes. Data from the Personal Understanding of Life and Social Experiences (PULSE) project, a 100-day, internet-based microlongitudinal study of 100 Oregon residents age 52 to 88 (M = 63.13, SD = 7.8), were used to explore processes of relationship regulation. At the beginning of the study, participants created a meaningful social goal, and mapped their social convoy. Participants then tracked their daily goal progress and feelings of social support, hindrance and satisfaction over a 100-day time period. Analysis was conducted using multilevel random coefficient models, and was structured to examine within person processes. Daily experiences of goal progress were positively related to social support and contact satisfaction, and negatively related with social hindrance. Importantly, these associations varied greatly between participants, in part as a function of convoy composition and goal orientations. The results from this study suggest that relationship regulation is (a) embedded in the social context of daily life; (b) differs based on the structure of the proximal social environment; (c) contingent on regulatory strategies selected by older adults to work towards their goals; and (d) differentiated by mean tendencies. The linkages between support, hindrance and contact satisfaction with daily goal progress found in this study suggest that the process of working towards a social goal is dependent on older adults' daily social contexts. This has implications for populations with varying access to social support and exposure to social hindrance. Further, individual differences in social regulatory processes were only partially explained by convoy structure and goal orientation. Future research is needed to search for the mechanisms that drive these between person differences in social regulatory processes. / Graduation date: 2012

The aim of this study was to explore women's perceptions of ageing in order to shed light on how individual women feel about getting older. The qualitative interpretive research paradigm was chosen for the purposes of this study. In-depth interviews were held with three women who gave their accounts of their perceptions of ageing. The data was analysed using hermeneutic thematic analysis. The accounts of the participants were reconstructed in terms of themes which emerged. Recurring themes in the accounts of all three participants were linked with the literature. This study provided rich descriptions of women's perceptions of ageing and helped to create new insights and meanings both for the participants and the readers. The information gained could serve as guidelines for clinical practice and future research. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)