The links between health-related behaviors and life satisfaction in elderly individuals who prefer institutional living

BACKGROUND: Life satisfaction among residents of institutions is becoming an important issue in a rapidly aging population. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the links between life satisfaction and health-related behaviors amongst functionally independent elderly people who prefer institutional living in İstanbul, Turkey. METHODS: The socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, leisure-time activities and fall histories of 133 residents of an institution in Istanbul were assessed by a structured questionnaire during face-to-face interviews. A validated life-satisfaction index questionnaire (LSI-A) was completed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 73.9 ± 8.0 (range 60–90 years). Within the group, 22.6% had never married and 14.3% had university degrees. The majority (71.4%) were in the low income bracket. The overall mean LSI-A score was 20.3 ± 5.9. Participants who declared moderate/high income levels had a significantly higher mean LSI-A score than those in the low-income bracket (p = 0.009). Multivariate analysis of the data suggested that leisure-time activities and participation in regular physical activities are significant predictors of LSI-A scores (R(2): 0.112; p = 0.005 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings imply that regular physical activity and leisure-time activities are significantly related to life satisfaction among residents in institutions. Participation in physical activity and leisure-time activity programs may help to improve the life satisfaction of elderly people living in institutions

HOUSING AND LIVING ENVIRONMENTS OF THE TURKISH ELDERLY

The current living environments of the Turkish elderly were explored as a function of urbanization. For this purpose, some findings from an extensive research project involving 448 Turkish elderly between the ages of 55 to 71 from small towns, cities and metropolitan areas were reported. Results indicated that although the elderly's assessment of their physical living conditions did not differ much as a function of urbanization, their satisfaction with life declined from small towns to metropolises. The reasons for this decline in life satisfaction were sought in the changes in the social living environments of the elderly accompanying urbanization. Design implications of such findings as the importance attributed to dwellings and people by the elderly, the functional and psychological extendedness of family units, preferences for same-age companionship and changing attitudes towards institutional living are discussed. The need to provide alternative living environments suitable to the needs of the Turkish elderly is stressed

LIFE SITUATIONS AND ATTITUDES OF THE TURKISH ELDERLY TOWARD INSTITUTIONAL LIVING WITHIN A CROSS-CULTURAL-PERSPECTIVE

Based on the findings of a cross-cultural study, this paper aims (a) to explore changes in the current life situations and attitudes of the Turkish elderly toward institutional living in terms of age, sex, and urbanization; and (b) by way of comparison with the Swedish case, to assess the generalizability of the findings within a cross-cultural perspective. Indepth interviews were carried out with 448 Turkish males and females (55-71 years) residing in small towns, cities, and metropolitan areas. The comparative Swedish sample consisted of 502 males and females between the ages of 60 and 71. Compared to Swedes, Turks had more frequent social contacts but reported feeling lonelier and more negatively about aging and their lives. Relative to Swedes, Turkish respondents were less favorable toward institutional living but became more favorable with age and urbanization. Unlike in Sweden, in Turkey an institution becomes an acceptable last resort for those who have fewer social contacts and feel lonelier and more negatively about aging and their lives

THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL WORLDS OF SWEDES AND TURKS IN AND AROUND RETIREMENT

Five hundred and two Swedish (60 to 71 years of age) and 448 Turkish (55 to 71 years of age) respondents of both genders were interviewed in depth concerning the characteristics of their social networks and evaluations of their current life situations in relation to self-images, life satisfaction, attitudes toward aging, and feelings of loneliness. Results indicated that (a) the Turks, especially men, had both larger social networks and interacted more frequently than the Swedes; (b) compared to Swedes, Turks had less positive attitudes toward getting older, higher feelings of personal loneliness, and lower life satisfaction; (c) within each culture, women had less positive attitudes toward aging and higher feelings of personal loneliness; Turkish women had lower and men had higher self-images than the Swedish men and women who did not differ from each other; (d) in both countries, a positive attitude toward aging was correlated with low personal loneliness and positive self-image; (e) gender differences were more pronounced for Turkey compared to Sweden

Cross-cultural investigation of the link between identity processing styles and the actual work of identity in the career domain

The current study investigated and compared the associations between identity processing styles and the actual work of identity formation in the career domain in two national contexts, the US and Turkey. Identity styles represent individuals' orientations to identity work, and were measured by the Identity Processing Styles Q-Sort (IPSQ). The actual work of identity indicates engagement in exploration and commitment activities at multiple levels; and was measured by an adapted version of the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS). In the current study, the actual work of identity was examined in the career domain only. The effects of gender and work status while in school on identity formation process in two national contexts also were examined. Results of the current study showed that the associations between identity processing styles and the actual work of identity are consistent across the two contexts, except that there is a stronger relation between informational style and identity work in Turkey; the impact of gender and work status on the actual work of identity also differed across contexts. The similarities and differences across the American and Turkish samples are discussed within the framework of broader contextual differences