Responsibility for Psychological Sense of Community and Well-Being in Old Age: A Qualitative Study of Urban Older Adults in Norway

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to explore older adults' understanding and conceptualizations of the concept "psychological sense of community" (PSOC) as experiences of belonging and being part of seem to be important in old age. Twelve older informants from Oslo (the capital of Norway) were interviewed. A thematic and discourse analytical approach was used to identify and depict the most central themes in the older adults' meaning of PSOC in-depth and in relation to context. The findings show that there are important parts of Norwegian older adults' meanings of PSOC that goes beyond dimensions included in the predominant conceptualization of PSOC. "Individual responsibility for PSOC in old age", identified as the most salient theme, reflects core Norwegian cultural values and provides new insight to premises of PSOC and well-being in old age. Furthermore, the findings in this Scandinavian sample extend the understanding of older adults' efforts to maintain their PSOC and well-being through life-changing transitions.

Psychological Sense of Community Responsibility and Diversity in Old Age: A Qualitative Study of Urban Older Adults in India

“…However, two core themes were detected which illustrate PSOC-R and diversity as culture-bound and context-specific concepts inherent in their meanings. As previous studies [11] [67], this study illustrates that later-life PSOC is largely influenced by the context and that many older adults are highly adjustable to large-scale changes potentially devastating to their PSOC. And once again, premises to older adults PSOC seem to be interrelated to culture [11] in this case both at a national as well as city level.…”

“…As previous studies [11] [67], this study illustrates that later-life PSOC is largely influenced by the context and that many older adults are highly adjustable to large-scale changes potentially devastating to their PSOC. And once again, premises to older adults PSOC seem to be interrelated to culture [11] in this case both at a national as well as city level. Communities outside the family and acceptance of heterogeneity seem to be ever so important for urban older adults PSOC and well-being in urban India today.…”

“I´m the one who has written this”: reciprocity in writing courses for older adults in Norway

“…In some cultures, maintaining a sense of independence as well as a sense of reciprocity between the older adults and health care professionals is a core value (Fyrand, 2010). This is the case for Norwegian culture, which promotes responsibility towards self-care practices, reducing the expectations that family members will act as care providers (Bahl, Nafstad, Blakar, & Geirdal, 2017). Yet, the vulnerability of older adults can make them susceptible to abuse and neglect, which threatens the experience of reciprocity (Lewinter, 2003).…”

Living in the Era of an Ideological Climate of Globalisation: A Study of Psychological Sense of Community Among Young and Older Adults in Two Cultures (India and Norway). Challenges for Community Psychology and the Applied Social Sciences

“…In old age, on the other hand, people go through transitions, such as retirement from society, the work community, adjusting lifestyle to lower income and withdrawing, and thereby reducing the social roles and networks ( Li et al, 2014 ; Provencher et al, 2014 ; Singelenberg et al, 2014 ). Also, people in their old age often experience changes in health and loss of spouse and friends, wishing now for programmes of assistance, care or, help that might not be there in their community ( Phillipson, 1993 ; Bahl et al, 2017 ). Thus in both of these two life stages, PSOC of people is at risk for decreasing due to ordinary life stress: in the younger years, if the social context becomes insufficient in satisfying evolving active needs in the process of constructing and adapting to a grown-up life and becoming a citizen with duties and rights ( Arnett, 2002 ; Colby et al, 2003 ; Cicognani et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Thus in both of these two life stages, PSOC of people is at risk for decreasing due to ordinary life stress: in the younger years, if the social context becomes insufficient in satisfying evolving active needs in the process of constructing and adapting to a grown-up life and becoming a citizen with duties and rights ( Arnett, 2002 ; Colby et al, 2003 ; Cicognani et al, 2014 ). In old age, social change and alteration of social structures, roles, family, social networks, often diminishing physical skills, and sometimes strong increase in frailty, most probably demand increasingly more individual efforts in order to maintain PSOC and find groups to be a part of and stay socially active ( Bahl and Hagen, 2017 ; Bahl et al, 2017 ). In the worst case, old people, as all of us today in this global situation of a COVID-19 pandemic, need extensive, integrated community, and municipality-based interventions of help and assistance.…”