The increase in the elderly population brings a reflection on successful aging. Thus, beneficial aspects during this phase are analyzed. This study aimed to analyze the forms of influence of the reading habit for the promotion of successful aging, relating the readings performed with the periods of the development process throughout life. The study presents a qualitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional design. This study sample was composed of seven women who participated in this research, aged 60 years, or over, intentionally selected through the snowball technique. The criterion for inclusion in the study was to have the habit of reading throughout the life cycle. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview script. The analysis was performed using the Bardin content analysis method. From the results, it was possible to identify the habit of reading as a great ally, working as a tool for coping with difficulties. In aging, reading occurs naturally, showing its importance throughout life. Among the interviewees, it was possible to identify, despite their unique stories, that parents have a strong influence on an individual reader's formation. It comes to solidify when the school reinforces it in adolescence. The experience of aging is unique, that is, subjective, and reading can serve all people in different ways. Consequently, this habit enables learning to overcome difficulties in each phase, providing a conscious and autonomous experience of aging, retirement, and body changes, looking for ways to live healthier, taking advantage of their individual potential.
Taking into account the increase in longevity and the positive and negative aspects brought by the aging process, the elderly often go through many losses. In this process, elderly people may be affected by physical and psychological problems, leading them to create or not strategies for aging well. The aim of this research is to analyze the association between psychological symptoms with spirituality and strategies for successful aging in the elderly. This study consists of a quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional research. The sample consisted of 49 people over 60 years of age, who actively participated in computing groups in the city of Novo Hamburgo, Brazil. The instruments used were the Selection, Optimization and Compensation Scale (SOC), the Symptom Assessment Scale (SAS-40) and the Spirituality Scale. Descriptive statistical analyzes, correlation by Spearman's test and linear regression by stages were performed. The results showed significant relationships between the psychological symptoms of anxiety, obsessiveness/ compulsiveness, psychoticism and somatization. Spirituality, especially hope and optimism, and strategies to promote successful aging, especially optimization, are relevant aspects for the reduction and control of these psychological symptoms. Hope, optimism and optimization are strategies that allow subjects to control the symptoms of psychoticism and obsessiveness. Hope and optimism aid in the control of anxiety and optimization helps in the somatization symptom. Based on these results, our conclusion is that it is necessary to improve public policies to allow the elderly to have opportunities to optimize their potential and develop hope and optimize the promotion of mental health.
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