Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The U.S. is now experiencing an unprecedented growth in its older population. In order to reduce the adverse effects of population aging, older adults’ civic engagement has been a recent focus in the field of aging. A considerable body of literature has documented the significance, current status, positive outcomes, and influencing factors of American elders’ civic engagement. However, there are very few studies, if any, that adopt an organizational competency perspective to explore the promotion of older adults’ participation in civic activities. To fill the current research gap, the dissertation aims to help formal organizations identify and develop necessary competencies to better engage American elders through two inquiries. The first inquiry is a mixed methods systematic literature review which included 19 quantitative studies, two qualitative studies, and one mixed methods study. Through meta-summary, six themes and 28 factors related to American elders’ civic engagement were generated. These themes encompassed socio-demographic factors (eight factors), health status (four factors), program characteristics (four factors), engagement opportunities (three factors), engagement outcomes (five factors), and social capital (four factors). Formal organizations are advised to develop relevant competencies to capture the beneficial influences of facilitating factors and minimize the adverse impact of obstructive factors. The second inquiry aims to develop and validate an Organizational Competency Scale (OCS) for elder civic engagement programs. 32 formal organizations and pertinent programs in the State of Texas participated in the pilot study. Factor analyses of the data collected from these organizations revealed a seven-factor solution for the OCS. These factors included client discovery with support, client-centered planning and management, client assessment and training, integration of diverse groups, promotion of adaptation between groups, integration of resources to address the structural constraints, and promotion of social recognition and social justice. As a reliable and valid scale, the OCS can serve as both an assessment tool and practice guidelines for formal organizations to evaluate and develop their competencies to increase American elders’ civic engagement. / 2 years

This study was designed to examine the concept of social support from the perspective of 30 African American elders, aged 70 years and above, with an age range of 70 to 99. Guided by the conceptual framework of stress and coping, this research examined the personal beliefs, as well as past experiences that motivate use of social support; when, how, from whom, and under what circumstances support is requested (or offered); and evaluations of the positive and negative outcomes of supportive interactions. The following research questions guided this study: (a) Whom do African American elders name in their most important network of supportive others and what meanings do they attach to the support? (b) What beliefs motivate and define African American elders' involvement in a social support network? and (c) How do African American elders evaluate the consequences of their supportive interactions? Qualitative in-depth interviewing was the method of data collection. Findings from this study showed that the African American elder informants were embedded in supportive networks, deeply devoted to family, friends and other committed partnerships, had strong religious and family ties, and had resiliency relative to the life stage of older adulthood. The foundation of their supportive interactions was based on their belief systems as well as their desire to reciprocate support. These informants were atypical by education and occupation. Varied coping resources emerged from the study including interdependence, spiritual beliefs, family philosophy, concern for others and self-protection. / Ph. D.