The study seeks to answer how midlife gay men in Manchester manage growing older. It analyses accounts generated through in-depth interviews with 27 middle-aged gay men living in Greater Manchester (aged 39 - 61) and 20 participant observation sessions conducted in Manchester's 'gay village.' It deploys an interpretivist methodology and a 'pick and mix' analytical framework developed by Thomson (2009) that uses of Foucault's 'technologies of the self' (1987) (that concern capacities for agency) but located within 'fields of existence' (with their own norms) adopted from Bourdieu (1984). Through analysis of participants' accounts of bodily practices (dress, grooming, diet, exercise) and their relationships in various fields, the study examines the constraints on and choices around expression of midlife identity and ways of relating. The study's structuring theme concerns the mechanisms through which midlife gay men in Manchester differentiate themselves from others. Differentiation is achieved largely through moral and epistemic claims-making around an 'authentic' gay male midlife self that is central to the notion of a legitimate, (age-appropriate) form of socio-sexual citizenship. As extant scholarship has identified, there are normative restrictions on expression of a midlife self and the possibilities for interaction (especially with younger gay men) but men can use self-worth and political knowledges gained from life experience ('ageing capital' and age-related technologies of the self) to do other than comply with such restrictions. But, this study also illuminates men's ambivalent responses to age, ageing, gay ageism and homophobia that involve negotiation with discourses that inform understandings of ageing and sexuality. The study also maps a cultural "politics of the minor" (Rose 1999) operating at the micro-level, which is concerned to affect the context of interaction. The power relations of gay male ageism that are crucial to this expression of politics are multidirectional. Midlife gay men are not just the targets of ageism from younger gay men. They distinguish themselves in ways that can express ageism towards younger, (some) peer aged and old gay men. The study also complicates assumptions about midlife gay men and their lives: 1) Dressing for 'comfort' (part of an 'authentic' midlife self) contradicts the idea that midlife gay men obsess about the body, prolonging youth and maintaining sexual marketability. 2) Manchester's gay village is not overwhelmingly a site of exclusion for midlife gay men. They negotiate with the rules of the game and use emotional and cultural political knowledges gained through life experience to resist ageism and carve out a conviviality that involves friendship, affection and care for others in sexualised space. 3) Gay men continue to experience unequal access to public space but gains in self-worth with age and the recent tolerance dividend indicate that this is now more often experienced as safer. Gayness is now being claimed as integral to broader sexual citizenship. 4) Midlife gay men do not live outside of kinship. Subjects creatively reconfigured their kinship circles/friendship families over time. This form of kinship has special political significance for this present generation of middle-aged gay men in Manchester. Paul Simpson, Manchester University, PhD. Sociology. 11 September 2011.

Submitted by ÉRICA PEREIRA DAS NEVES (ericapneves@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-01-29T12:15:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 neves_dissertaçao_mestrado_2015.pdf: 9884231 bytes, checksum: b8ee1e1419eea1e2aaf038a7491dd95b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-02-02T11:49:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 neves_ep_me_bauru.pdf: 9884231 bytes, checksum: b8ee1e1419eea1e2aaf038a7491dd95b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-02T11:49:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 neves_ep_me_bauru.pdf: 9884231 bytes, checksum: b8ee1e1419eea1e2aaf038a7491dd95b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-08 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O mercado da moda se caracteriza pela forte dinamicidade e pelo vertiginoso quadro de novas tendências. Somado a isso, o fortalecimento do poder crítico do consumidor, devido ao fácil acesso às informações de moda e estilo oriundas do mundo inteiro, intensifica ainda mais as questões pertinentes à evolução do setor têxtil e de confecção. Para tanto, algumas empresas desse setor procuram na segmentação de seus consumidores e usuários a adequação necessária para o sucesso de seus produtos. Na tentativa de se adequar aos novos hábitos de consumo e experimentação do produto de moda, lançam mão de linguagens simbólicas diferenciadas e atualizadas, além de recursos tecnológicos avançados. Contudo, muitas vezes, as qualidades físicas dos produtos de moda, em especial do vestuário, podem gerar conflitos quanto à sua interpretação e usabilidade, uma vez que, durante sua fase de concepção, os aspectos biopsicossociais de seus usuários específicos não são considerados. No que se refere ao universo feminino, os aspectos físicos e emocionais decorrentes do processo de envelhecimento, mais especificamente climatério e menopausa, podem influenciar na percepção de usabilidade do vestuário. Considerando tal hipótese, o presente estudo propôs identificar se as variações biopsicossociais e as reconfigurações plásticas do corpo das mulheres de meia idade (e os recursos que estes indivíduos utilizam para contornar os problemas psicossociais) influenciam a percepção de usabilidade do vestuário. Para responder essa questão, foi elaborado e aplicado um questionário que considerou, entre outros aspectos: a identificação dos indivíduos; suas características físicas e psicológicas; sua percepção quanto às alterações biopsicossociais decorrentes do climatério-menopausa; sua avaliação subjetiva quanto às características físicas, ergonômicas e estéticas dos produtos do vestuário encontrados atualmente no mercado; e sua avaliação quanto à importância do produto de moda em sua reconfiguração corpórea. Adicionalmente, o questionário também possibilitou a verificação dos aspectos subjetivos e emocionais vinculados aos fatores de aquisição de produtos do vestuário, evidenciando assim, percepções e expectativas do segmento em questão com relação aos padrões de consumo de moda. Pode-se verificar, por meio dos resultados alcançados, que tais alterações biopsicossociais podem influenciar a percepção das mulheres de meia idade quanto aos aspectos de usabilidade, bem como sua avaliação emocional e subjetiva com relação ao vestuário. / Strong dynamism and new trends characterize the fashion market. Added to this, the strengthening of consumer critical perspective, due to the easy access to the arising fashion and style information from around the world, further intensifies the issues related to the evolution of textile and clothing sector. Therefore, some companies of the sector search through the consumers and users segmentation the necessary adjustments to the success of their products. In an attempt to adapt to the new habits of consumption and experimentation of the fashion product, the companies and industries make use of differentiated and updated symbolic languages, and advanced technological resources. However, often the physical qualities of fashion products, especially clothing, can create conflict in relation to its interpretation e usability, once during its conception fase, the biophysical aspects of its specific users are not considered. As regards the female universe, the physical and emotional aspects of the aging process, specifically menopause may influence the perception of clothing usability. Considering this hypothesis, the present study aimed to identify whether the biopsychosocial variations and the plastic reconfigurations of the body of middle-aged women (and resources that these individuals use to deal with the psychosocial problems) influence the perception of clothing usability. To answer this question, a questionnaire was designed and applied considering some aspects such as: individual identification; physical and psychological characteristics; perception about the psychosocial changes resulting from menopause; subjective assessment in regard the physical, ergonomic and aesthetic characteristics of the clothing product currently found on the market; and the assessment of the importance of fashion product in body reconfiguration. It was observed, through the achieved results, that such biopsychosocial changes can influence the perception of middle-aged women in regard of the aspects of usability, as well as their emotional and subjective assessment regarding clothing. / FAPESP: 2013/11156-1

Esta tese investiga como ocorrem as vivências da metanoia em pessoas de meia-idade, período compreendido entre os quarenta e sessenta anos, na contemporaneidade. A metanoia caracteriza-se por um processo psicológico que pode ocorrer a partir do meio da vida, em que intensos fluxos de energia do inconsciente fluem em direção à consciência, trazendo novos conteúdos para a psique consciente e também reaproximando conteúdos reprimidos ou negligenciados no passado para que possam ser elaborados e integrados pelo ego. Esse processo mobiliza tanto crises como também desenvolvimentos emocionais. Por meio dos dados coletados em quatro encontros grupais, com seis participantes, sendo quatro mulheres e dois homens, com idade compreendida entre 46 e 59 anos, analisaram-se, a partir do referencial da psicologia analítica, as transformações psicológicas relatadas pelos colaboradores, relativas aos processos oriundos do envelhecimento, bem como dos processos de metanoia propriamente ditos. Os dados obtidos apontaram para transformações significativas nas seguintes categorias: relação com o corpo, saúde e energia; tempo, envelhecimento e finitude, sexualidade e relacionamento afetivo, relacionamento com amizades, relacionamento com pais e filhos, trabalho e aposentadoria, relação com a sociedade e a cultura, desenvolvimentos da maturidade. Foi observada no material estudado a intensificação do diálogo ego-self, já bem descrito pela literatura, bem como a intensificação do diálogo ego-persona e ego-puer-senex, sendo esses dois últimos tão importantes nos processos de adaptação, transformação e ampliação da personalidade consciente quanto o primeiro. Também se observou no material do grupo o funcionamento do eixo ego-arquétipo do herói, através de um pensamento e capacidade de ação reflexivos, o que ampliou a autonomia egoica para dialogar com ambos os polos das diversas instâncias psíquicas do inconsciente, sem se identificar com nenhum deles. A pesquisa comprovou que a idade adulta é, no mínimo, tão importante no desenvolvimento da personalidade quanto qualquer outra fase da vida. O trabalho também destacou a importância do papel do grupo, tanto como método de coleta de dados quanto em seu funcionamento como um ritual de iniciação para a maturidade. O grupo se mostrou como possibilitador de trocas significativas com pessoas da mesma faixa etária, proporcionando profundas reflexões sobre o desenvolvimento psicológico, por meio do reconhecimento e compartilhamento das necessidades de construção de novos papéis e de ressignificação de antigos papéis já consolidados na personalidade, em um mundo de rápidas e constantes transformações / This thesis investigates how the experiences of Metanoia occur in middle age, the period between forty and sixty years in contemporaneity. The Metanoia is characterized by a psychological process that can occur from the middle of life where intense fluxes of energy flow from unconscious toward consciousness bringing new content to the conscious psyche and also approaching repressed or neglected contents in the past so that they can be developed and integrated by the ego. This process mobilizes both crisis as well as emotional development. Through data collected in four group meetings with six participants, four women and two men, aged between 46 and 59 years, were analyzed, from the reference of analytical psychology, the psychological transformation reported by cooperators concerning proceedings from aging as well as the process of Metanoia themselves. The data point to significant changes in the following categories: relationship to the body, health and energy, time, aging and finitude, sexuality and emotional relationship, relationship with friendships and relationship with parents and children, work and retirement, society and culture, development of maturity. It was observed in the studied material increased dialogue ego-self, already well described in the literature as well as the intensification of the dialogue ego-persona and ego-puer-senex, being the latter two as important in the processes of adaptation, transformation and expansion of the conscious personality as the first. Also it was observed in the group\'s material the functioning of the axis ego-hero archetype through a thought and capacity of reflexive action which increased the egoism autonomy to engage with both poles of the various instances of the psychic unconscious without identifying with any of them. The research showed that adulthood is as important in the development personality as any other phase of life. The work also highlights the importance of the group both as a method of data collection as for its functioning a rite of passage into adulthood. The group showed up as an enabler for meaningful exchanges with people of the same age providing deeper insights into the psychological development by recognizing and sharing the needs of building old papers already consolidated in personality in a world of rapid and constant transformation

Two studies based on one online randomized controlled trial examined the effects of sport gain-framed messages (Rothman & Salovey, 1997) and a sport possible self (Murru & Martin Ginis, 2010) protocol on indices of possible self activation and elaboration, sport intention, and sport activity. 244 non-sporting adults (M = 50.59, 40-59 yrs) completed baseline/screening measures (T1), a gain-framed experimental/control intervention one week later (T2), and follow-up measures (T3) four weeks after T2. Study 1 showed gain-framed participants most frequently attended to a health and fitness message, more frequently described a possible self, and elaborated more on their possible selves (especially about delaying aging and developing friendships through sport). Study 2 indicated that gain-framed individuals requested more sport newsletters and registered for more sport programs. From T1 to T2, gain-framed conditions facilitated increased intentions for those with low approach motivation, whereas control conditions improved intentions for individuals with high approach motivation.

This descriptive correlational study was designed to increase the knowledge needed to understand the relationship among health-related variables that facilitate or sustain health-promoting behaviours of midlife women. Specifically, this study investigated the relationship among self-esteem, health locus of control, and health-promoting behaviours of women in this age group. Pender's (1982) original Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework to structure this study. The sample included 84 midlife women volunteers who were current or prospective members of a Vancouver-based social networking group for mature women. Data were collected using the Rosenberg (1965) Self-Esteem Scale, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale -Form A, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's product-moment correlations, and stepwise multiple regression. Three significant predictors, self-esteem, chance health locus of control, and powerful others health locus of control, explained 24.5% of the variance for engaging in health-promoting behaviours. The study findings supported Pender's Model which postulated that individual perceptions of self-esteem and health locus of control, among other personal factors, influence one's likelihood of engaging in health-promoting behaviours. The findings also supported Pender's contention that selected demographic variables, as modifying variables, have an impact on health-promoting behaviours. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

This grounded theory study investigated the experiences of 18 middle class, middle aged men who lost long term employment because of organizational restructuring. Limited research had previously been conducted in this area and this study extends our understanding about the impact of job loss on people who have lost long term employment. The purpose of the study was to explicate the lived experiences of these men and generate an explanation and model of how they reconstructed their understanding of career following job loss from long term employment. The men's experience of job loss and how they constructed career after the loss of long term employment were explained through a dynamic and interacting four stage process model of the dissolution of career. Stage 1, establishing career, explained how the men came to understand career as a relationship. For these men, career, as a relationship, was based on trust and was comprised of reciprocal terms believed to exist between the "good employee" and the "good employer." Over time, by fulfilling the terms of reciprocity, a psychological contract was established between the men and their employers. This contract contained mutual obligations, such as, employment security in exchange for employee commitment, loyalty, hard work, and sacrifice. Stage 2, the termination of employment, revealed how the experience of job loss signified a violation of the psychological contract. The men believed they had complied with the psychological contract; however, the employer's failure to provide employment security represented a violation of the psychological contract. This violation was a highly emotional experience, tantamount to a betrayal. Although compensation could represent the employer's effort to honour the employer/employee relationship, compensation in the form of severance pay was not adequate. Stage 3, disengaging from career, signified the period of time during which the men attempted to come to terms with the loss of career. The men attempted to secure new employment in a world of work different from the world in which they had begun their careers. Although the men sought employment that promoted the employer/employee relationship of career, seeking work revealed career as they had known it was unlikely in the new world of work. Past experience and educational upgrading had little effect on their ability to secure employment. Employers favoured inexpensive labour, immediate skills, and short term working relationships with employees. Generally, the men found themselves working in unstable jobs for less money. The men who secured stable work, gained job security through union membership or self employment instead of relying on the employer/employee relationship. The men's experiences during this stage underscored the experiences of the second stage. Stage 4, the dearth of career, represented the outcome of the men's experiences of the preceding stages. Although the men maintained previous definitions of career, they stated they had lost career and that career is no longer possible in the context of the new world of work. They were less trusting of employers. They favoured a transactional orientation towards work and stressed self interest in work relationships. Whereas, career provided a major source of purpose and meaning in the past, they constructed new purpose and meaning in life by reprioritizing other relationships in their lives, that is, with self, family, and friends. One wonders, however, whether life seemed less meaningful for the men who participated in this study because they maintained their definitions of career. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to construct a model of midlife work adaptation that depicts a basic framework outlining coping processes by which midlife adults use to approach changes identified in the current midlife context that challenge them cognitively, physically, and emotionally.

No description available.

Pain symptoms in aging populations have significant public health impact. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for the incidence of pain in older adults, focusing on those factors that can be modified. Secondary analyses were performed of survey data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study of US adults older than 50 years. Generalized estimating equations logistic regressions were used to evaluate the effect of selected variables on the incidence of pain using biennial (1992 through 2006) data, determining the relationship between the incidence of pain and the potential risk factors. Of the 18,439 survey respondents in 2006, 34.1% (95% CI: 33.2%, 35.0%) reported that they were often troubled by pain; 24.3% reported having moderate to severe pain; and 22.3% reported that their daily life was affected by pain. Between 1992 and 2006, 7967 individuals reported new onset of pain in 169,762 person-years of follow-up, an incidence of 4.69 (4.59, 4.80) per 100 person-years. Depression and being overweight were independent predictors associated with an increased likelihood of incident pain. Current smoking increased the likelihood of incident pain only in those subjects who also reported depression. In conclusion, pain is a common symptom in older adults. Depression, smoking, and overweight are potentially modifiable risk factors and could be considered in the prevention and management of pain in older adults.

Falls remain one of the most reportable, serious and costly type of adverse events costing an estimated $3,500 to $27,000 depending on the injury. The research often focuses on the elderly and their risk for falls and injury. Increasingly higher rates of falls are being reported in the middle-age inpatient 45 to 64 years of age. While predictors of falls and injuries have been studied across all adult inpatients, research has not specifically addressed fall risk characteristics in the middle-age. The World Health Organization’s (WHO), “Risk factor model for fall in older age”, framework was adapted for the middle-age inpatient. This framework identifies extrinsic and intrinsic variables from four risk factor groupings of biological, socioeconomic, behavioral, environmental and related outcomes to describe characteristics of the middle-age inpatient’s fall injury risk. Hitcho et al. (2004) seminal article was also used to identify pertinent inpatient characteristics. The purpose of this exploratory retrospective quantitative study described fall risk factors specific to the middle-age inpatient. The aims: (1) described risk factors of falls and fall injury; (2) described unit specific data, fall numbers with type of falls, injuries from falls, and prevention strategies (3) compare the incidence of fall and injury rates in the middle-age (45- 64) patients to the other hospital adult age-groups (ages 21-44 and 65-90). This study used retrospective hospital occurrence data to identify middle-age inpatient falls and related characteristics reported by staff. Chart review of inpatient falls identified 439 individual falls occurring from January 2012 through July 2014. The study sample included inpatients that fell either one-time or had a repeat fall during the study period. Analysis for data included use of descriptive statistics, crosstabs, and Poisson regression. Outcomes collected included demographics, admitting diagnosis, chief complaints, cormorbities, and discharge status, type of falls and areas of falls. There was no significant difference in rates of falls between units or in staffing ratios that had a bearing on the middle-age inpatient. Fall prevention interventions were found to be universally applied, not specific to the individual, nor based on outcomes of risk screening of anticipated physiological risk factors. In comparison of the middle-age inpatient population with those age 65 -90 years of age the rates per 1000 patient days for both falls (p=.637) and injuries (p=.626) had no significant difference. Males fell at a significantly higher rate (p=.000) than females in the middle-age inpatient and those aged 64-90 years. The middle-age inpatient fell at an alarming rate of 42% of all falls. This research provided insight into a population with acute and multiple chronic disease conditions and comorbidities that contribute to altered mental status, abnormal gait and frequently awaking at night to void. This population often overestimates their limitations and strives to maintain their autonomy. The age of the patient should not influence staff assessment of alertness and orientation. The findings of the characteristics in this research provide rich information for further research in how to include the middle-age patient in clinical decision making and education of this age group.