Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:37:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandra Bomfim Leonel.pdf: 479530 bytes, checksum: 4f50d76587838736e7bc274e35ccd88f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Diante do número expressivo de mulheres com idade acima de 40 anos, correspondendo a 35% do total da população feminina do país, observa-se um crescente interesse de mulheres nessa faixa etária em ingressar em uma universidade em busca de novos espaços e novos conhecimentos. Dessa forma, com base na obra de Hinde acerca dos relacionamentos interpessoais, essa pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar as mudanças percebidas em suas relações familiares e de amizade, por mulheres de meia idade, casadas e com filhos, após a sua inserção em uma graduação da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Foram averiguadas as mudanças percebidas no relacionamento com os familiares (cônjuge e filhos), mudanças percebidas no relacionamento com amigos antigos e o estabelecimento de novas amizades, a partir da sua entrada na universidade. Foram entrevistadas oito mulheres, graduandas da UFES, com idade entre 40 e 60 anos. Os dados foram obtidos através de entrevista semiestruturada e analisados qualitativamente. Os resultados obtidos foram divididos em categorias enfatizando as expectativas e desafios no retorno aos estudos, a influência da vida acadêmica na prática cotidiana, nas relações familiares e nas relações de amizade, os planos futuros da mãe/esposa na visão dos familiares, o significado da vida acadêmica para a mulher ma meia-idade. Constatou-se que a entrada na universidade foi permeada por conflitos, preconceitos, acúmulo de funções e estresse se contrapondo à realização pessoal, crescimento intelectual, novas construções de amizade e ressignificação da vida / Given the number of women aged over 40 years, corresponding to 35% of the total Brazilian female population, there is a growing interest of women in this age group to join a university searching for new opportunities and knowledge. Thus, based on the work of Hinde about interpersonal relationships, this work aimed to investigate perceived changes in the family relationships and friendships of middle-aged women, married with children, after their insertion in a undergraduate course at the Federal University of Espírito Santo. The perceived changes in relationships with family members (spouse and children), in relationships with old friends and establishing new friendships after their university entrance have been investigated. Eight women aged between 40 and 60 years, regular undergraduate students at UFES have been interviewed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed qualitatively. The results were divided into topics emphasizing the expectations and challenges in returning to studies, the influence of academic life in everyday practice, in family relations and in friendships, the future plans of the mother / wife in the eyes of family members, the meaning of academic life for the middle-aged woman. It was found that the university entrance was permeated by conflicts, prejudices, and accumulation of functions and stress besides personal achievement, intellectual growth, the development of new friendships and reframing of life

This study explores the role of spirituality in the transition through midlife. Using narrative research methodology, in-depth tape-recorded interviews were conducted with ten self-selected adults between the ages of 47 and 63 who felt spirituality had played an important role in their transition through mid-life. Of the seven women and three men who participated, nine were Caucasian and one was Asian. Four participants were not adherents of a recognized religious faith, while the other six reported an affiliation with Eastern, middle-Eastern, or Western faiths. Of this well-educated, middle to upper income sample, four participants were married with children, three were single, and three were divorced. Tape-recorded interview transcriptions were used to develop first person narrative accounts of the role spirituality in the transition through midlife. These accounts were validated by the participants. Further analysis of the validated narratives yielded ten common elements. The first four elements indicated a significant role for spirituality in the developmental process of midlife, by helping the participants to cope with losses and challenges, revise values and identity, and find spiritual meaning. The next six elements, which suggest an expanded definition of spirituality, described the ongoing importance of spirituality in the lives of the participants. The common elements and findings are discussed in light of current theory and research on midlife, as well as psychological perspectives on spirituality. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Med en åldrande befolkning ökar vikten av att finna faktorer som kan bidra till bättre hälsa och funktion hos äldre personer. Personer med god lungfunktion lever längre och hälsosammare. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka lungfunktion i hög ålder och dess samband med fysisk aktivitet från medelåldern upp till hög ålder. För att öka förståelsen för sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet och lungfunktion i hög ålder undersöks även sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet i medelålder och fysisk aktivitet i hög ålder.   Två nationellt representativa undersökningar har använts, levnadsnivåundersökningen (LNU) och undersökningen om äldre personers levnadsvillkor (SWEOLD). Deltagarna har intervjuats vid tre tillfällen; i medelåldern (ålder i genomsnitt 53 år) sen medelålder (i genomsnitt 61 år) och i hög ålder (i genomsnitt 81 år) med en genomsnittlig uppföljningstid på 24-30 år.     Resultaten från den longitudinella studien visar att fysisk aktivitet i sen medelålder har ett samband med lungfunktion i hög ålder. Detta samband blir mindre starkt när även fysisk aktivitet i hög ålder inkluderas i analysmodellen, men består. Det finns ett starkt samband mellan fysisk aktivitet i hög ålder och lungfunktion i hög ålder. Resultaten visar även att fysisk aktivitet i sen medelålder har ett samband med fysisk aktivitet i hög ålder. Sammanfattningsvis visar denna studie vikten av fysisk aktivitet även högt upp i åldrarna för att bibehålla en god lungfunktion i hög ålder. Att satsa på preventiva insatser som främjar fysisk aktivitet, och då även inkludera de allra äldsta (76+), är av särskild vikt för att främja ett fortsatt hälsosamt åldrande. / Finding predictors of good health and function in older age has become even more important as populations are aging all over the world. Individuals with good lung function live longer and healthier lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of physical activity, from midlife to older age, in lung function in older age. In order to increase the understanding of the relationship between physical activity and lung function in old age, the relationship between physical activity in midlife and physical activity in old age was also studied.   Two Swedish studies based on nationally representative samples, linked at the individual level, were used in this study, the Level of Living Survey (LNU) and the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD). The participants were interviewed on three occasions; at the mean ages of 53 years, 61 years, and 81 years. The Average follow-up time was 24-30 years.   The results from this longitudinal study show that physical activity in late midlife was associated with lung function in older age. This association was attenuated when physical activity in older age was adjusted for in the analyses. There was also a strong association between physical activity in older age and lung function in older age. Moreover, physical activity in late midlife was associated with physical activity in older age.   In summary, this study shows the importance of physical activity in late midlife and in older ages for good lung function in older ages. To invest in preventive actions in the form av physical activity, and also including the oldest old (76+), are vital to be able to promote healthy aging. / Work related stress across the life course and late-life cognitive and physical function: Which modifiable social and lifestyle factors promote resilience?

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本研究採質性研究（qualitative research）之深度晤談法（indepth interview）進行資料收集，再以紮根理論方法進行文本分析，共訪12位中年女性，本研究結果如下： 一、照顧家中失能老人中年女性之照顧經驗與感受 個案因「角色認同、婚姻綁樁、反哺回饋及無法承受之罪」承接照顧責任，面臨「專業照護技能學習、人際關係緊張疏離、生活陷入窘迫、家人支援不足」等壓力；透過「修正照顧認知、尋找照顧意義、暫離照護情境」調適壓力；家庭照護政策未見具體效益。 二、照顧家中失能老人中年女性之生命經驗 （一）身心知覺 個案出現身心變化，關心「健康」；對身體變化未積極面對。視更年期為正常發展，對荷爾蒙等醫療處置態度保守；性生活漸入佳境，部分個案偏重心靈契合。 （二）家庭關係 夫妻角色清楚分工，情感依附互補隨時間而質變，婚姻風暴者多已迎刃而解，夫妻做到「獨留心靈空間、相近的價值觀及穩定的經濟基礎」婚姻狀態即非常滿意；先生參與家中特殊兒童的照顧，影響婚姻滿意度。個案親子關係頗佳，隨年齡增加而變化；角色功能多似朋友，成人期親子關係轉為「互惠」。 （三）自我發展 個案自我圖像偏重社會我、心理我的描述，人際互動呈現多元自我，生命經驗中的依序或脫序事件均為中年女性之人生轉捩點，但更年期或停經則非其人生重要里程碑。 三、照顧家中失能老人對中年女性生命經驗之影響 照顧工作影響身心變化；影響夫妻「親密互動」及「依附關係」；對親子關係產生「連累子女、身教典範、矛盾依附」三項結果；對自我發展的「自我實現」及「老年與死亡準備」產生影響。 關鍵字：中年女性照顧者；生命經驗；失能老人；身心知覺；家庭關係；自我發展。 / The main purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences of midlife women who caring disabled elders at home. Twelve midlife women participated in this research. In this study, the semi-structure and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Their answers were audio-taped as data collection. Ground theory analysis was used to analyze the data. The major findings were divided into three parts according the purposes of this study as follows: （1） The experience and perception of caring disabled elders which we found in this study： The reasons of midlife women caring disabled elders were the sense of responsibility, marriage connection, repay the kindness from disabled elders and didn’t want to be a guilty person. The stressors of caring disabled elders were short of homecare skills, the strain of interpersonal relationship, distress of daily life and deficiency of family support. The coping of the stressors were modifying the cognition of caring responsibility, finding the meanings of caring, and leaving the caring setting for a while. In this study, we didn’t find the efficacy of family care polity. （2）The life experience of mid-age women were divided into three parts： The first part result is psychosomatic perception, we found that women are going through psychosomatic change and more concerned about health. Climacteric is just a nature event for them, most mid-age women never minded that and refuse treatment by medicine. They also expressed the sexual relationship with their husbands are improving in the midlife. The second part is family relationship of the midlife women, we found the marital relations and parent-child relations were dynamic and changeable. The couples had the clear division of gender role, who had the conflicts and were handled finally. Free mind, independent, similar value and stable income were important key points of marriage satisfaction. The midlife women have good parent-child relationships who treat their children as friend. The relationship between midlife women and their adult children turn into mutual benefits. The third part is self development of the midlife women, we ask midlife women to descript themselves focusing on social self and psychological self. We found multiple dimensions of self when women interact with others . All of the twelve mid-age women thought that off time events or on time events are both the turn points in their life-cycle, but climacteric or menopause is not. It is just a nature event. （3）The influence of caring disabled elder for the life experience of midlife women： Caring disabled elder induced some psychosomatic symptoms, disturbing the intimate relations and emotion bond of couples. The influence of caring disabled elder for the parent-child relationships were children of midlife women need to help the caring work, mid-age women were the role model of their children and induced the contradiction between midlife women and their children. In the aspect of self development, caring disabled elder interrupted their plans of the future, reminded mid-age women to prepare their elder life and thinking about death issue. Key words：midlife women; caregiver; life experience; disabled elders; psychosomatic perception; family relationship; self development.

L’objet de la présente recherche vise à donner un éclairage théorique, empirique et pratique de l’après-transmission du point de vue du cédant, qui a transmis sa PME saine ou apparemment saine, pour un motif autre que la retraite. A la suite de l’étude d’un cas pilote, la recherche s’oriente vers l’investigation de l’après-transmission volontaire du cédant mature en PME, comme opportunité de rebond pluridimensionnel. Le cadre conceptuel procède des théories du développement psychosocial à mi-vie, du développement du style cognitif de l’adulte, des stratégies de réinvestissement et du concept d’identité plurielle. Fondés sur une étude de cas multiples composée de huit unités d’analyse, les résultats résident dans la compréhension de la dynamique de rebond du cédant mature en PME (1), la modélisation du processus de rebond associé à l’évolution du statut du cédant-réinvestisseur (2) et la formulation d’une taxonomie des trajectoires individuelles de rebond (3). Au final, l’après-transmission du cédant mature en PME se révèle être un rebond au singulier pluriel. / The aim of the present research is to provide a theoretical, empirical and practical exploration of post- succession, from the perspective of the transferor who has transferred a healthy or apparently healthy SME for a reason other than retirement. Following a pilot case study, the research focused on the investigation of the voluntary post-succession of the mature SME transferor, as an opportunity for pluridimensional rebound. The conceptual framework emerges from theories of midlife psychosocial development, adult cognitive style development and reinvestment strategy and the concept of multiple identities. Based on a study of multiple cases, using eight units of analysis, the results lead to the understanding of the rebound dynamics of the mature SME transferor (1), modelling of the rebound process associated with the development of the status of transferor/reinvestor (2) and the formulation of a taxonomy of individual rebound trajectories (3). Finally, the post- succession of the mature SME transferor is revealed to be a “singular-plural” rebound.

Background of the Study The aims of this study was to specifically investigate the differences in culture, attitude towards life and social networks between Australian and Taiwanese men and women in addition to determining the factors that predict midlife men and women's quality of life in both countries. Because individualism and collectivism are the two most thoroughly researched constructs in inter-cultural and cross-cultural studies we should look at how these construct affects societies. The theme for individualist cultures (such as Western cultures) is autonomy, while the theme for collectivist cultures (such as Asian cultures) is connection. Most literature available on individualism and collectivism note all cultures have different values that influence their society and ultimately a person's individual health outcome. Very little work has been undertaken in this domain in Australia or Taiwan, particularly in the area of midlife transition and from a cultural perspective. Methodology Data was collected from a cross-sectional, supervised self-administered survey using census data and a probability proportional sampling (PPS) strategy on a general population of men and women aged 40-59 years old who live permanently in Brisbane, Australia and Taipei, Taiwan. The study population was divided into 163 Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Brisbane, and 449 Local Government Communities (LGCs) in Taipei. Sixty clusters were randomly selected using probability proportional sampling (PPS) to obtain 30 Australian clusters and 30 Taiwanese clusters. In this study, the 30 (areas) by 7(people) method was used with an additional strategy. The variables were measured including: culture (vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism), attitude towards life (the total score of optimism), social networks (the total score of emotional, informational, affectionate, tangible, and positive social interaction) and quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and environmental health), social demographical factors and religion and spiritualty. The data analysis procedure included descriptive, bivarite and multivariate multiple regressions and classifications and regression trees (CART). A comparison of the linear regression and regression tree results were discussed. All data analysis was performed by SPSS and S-Plus softwares. Results The overall response rate for the study was 84.2% for midlife Australian men and women and 88.4% for midlife Taiwanese men and women this resulted in 278 Australians (45.3% men) and 398 Taiwanese (35.4% men) providing data to be analysed. Findings in this study indicated country of residence has an overwhelming impact on quality of life with significant differences seen between midlife Australian and Taiwanese men and women (F4, 666= 59.31, P< .001). Results suggest midlife Australian men and women have a better quality of life than midlife Taiwanese men and women. In addition, a comparison of the linear regression and regression tree results reveals that two models identified the same major affect variable for different countries of residence: which was attitude towards life in midlife Australians and social networks in midlife Taiwanese. However, regression trees were able to capture important nonlinear effects as well as interactions between cultural attribute variables. This study demonstrated culture significantly involves multiple functions and interacts with attitude towards life, social networks and individual factors to influence a person's quality of life. The interaction of cultural circumstances and the internal and external factors involved, show less comparative attributes and increased equality attributes, defining the need for people to have a good social networks and a healthy positive disposition. Conclusion Because of the ever increasing flexibility of world travel and a global population, people have much more opportunity to interact with many other cultures which would create improvement in learning opportunities and better health management effectiveness for people the world over. This study has addressed and contributed to the assessment of multi-cultural quality of life research and has important implications for all health professions in addition to government departments and organisational policy makers of both countries. And finally, this study has identified that there needs to be a concerted effort to implement major policy shifts in the near future because of the changing fabric of modern societies. At the same time technology and globalisation have advanced rapidly and point to new opportunities within and across countries for more diverse approaches in research and the implementation of policy initiatives to occur. This study has highlighted that opportunities exist to reflect on current policies for Australian and Taiwanese societies to provide enhanced opportunities to care for the growing midlife populations.

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to gain a richer understanding of midlife experiences. Midlife is stereotypically viewed as a crisis and is one of the least studied, most illdefined stages in life, yet it’s one of the most significant stages. The epistemological framework for this study is post modernism, which allows for this study to document the transitions from crisis at midlife, as seen through the lens of Positive Psychology. This study was exploratory in nature and applied a qualitative ethnographic methodology. Six participants were interviewed from an ethnographic perspective, in an endeavour to allow each participant accordant ontological breadth and flexibility within their respective social and ideological contexts. The researcher’s own social context also adding nuance to the interpretation of data. This interpretation allows for the inclusion of hope, wisdom, creativity, future mindedness, courage, spirituality, responsibility and perseverance. Thematic analysis of these participants’ narratives supports the psychological research which suggests that challenges are associated with midlife. Thematic analysis revealed challenges associated with midlife such as feelings of disillusionment, regret and dissatisfaction; feelings of loneliness, rejection and isolation as well as confusion about the way forward; seeking a meaningful existence and connection as well as achievement. Some participants, however, are in denial of the existence or their experience of midlife and associated challenges, whereas others describe midlife as a transition phase — a crossroads, a wake-up call and time for reassessment Although midlife can be a difficult transitional period, Positive Psychology can help individuals identify and build the necessary resources and coping strategies to prevent a transition turning into a crisis. It was shown that most participants in this research displayed a mindset and attitude open to a Positive Psychology paradigm to accumulate the necessary resources and coping strategies to prevent a midlife transition from becoming a midlife crisis. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)