Paul de Boissieu1, Serge Guerin2, Véronique Suissa3, Fiona Ecarnot4,5, Aude Letty2, Stéphane Sanchez2,6,7. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kremlin-Bicêtre University Hospital APHP, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. 2. Korian, (The Korian Foundation for Ageing Well), Paris, France. 3. Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Neuropsychologie EA2027, Université Paris VIII, Paris, France. 4. EA3920, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 25000, Besancon, France. Fiona.ecarnot@univ-fcomte.fr. 5. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Besançon, Besançon, France. Fiona.ecarnot@univ-fcomte.fr. 6. Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, (Pôle Territorial Santé Publique & Performance), Troyes, France. 7. EA3797-Viellissement Fragilité, URCA, Reims, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a compelling need to prepare our societies and healthcare systems to deal with the oncoming wave of population ageing. The majority of older persons maintain a desire to be valued and useful members of society and of their social networks. AIMS: We sought to investigate the perception of usefulness among persons aged 65 years and over in four European countries. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of individuals aged 65 years or older from the population of retired persons (including recently retired persons and oldest-old individuals) from 4 European countries selected using quota sampling. In February 2016, an internet questionnaire was sent to all selected individuals. The characteristics used for the quota sampling method were sex, age, socio-professional category, region, city size, number of persons in household, autonomy, marital status, place of residence, income and educational status. The questionnaire contained 57 questions. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Responses were analysed with principal components analysis (PCA). RESULTS: A total of 4025 persons participated; 51% were males, and 70% were aged 65-75 years. PCA identified six classes of individuals, of which two classes (Classes 2 and 3) were characterized by more socially isolated individuals with little or no sense of usefulness, low self-esteem and a poor sense of well-being. These two classes accounted for almost 20% of the population. Younger and more autonomous classes reported a more salient sense of usefulness. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of the sense of usefulness is associated with dissatisfaction with life and a loss of pleasure, and persons with profiles corresponding to Classes 2 and 3 should, therefore, be targeted for interventions aimed at restoring social links.
BACKGROUND: There is a compelling need to prepare our societies and healthcare systems to deal with the oncoming wave of population ageing. The majority of older persons maintain a desire to be valued and useful members of society and of their social networks. AIMS: We sought to investigate the perception of usefulness among persons aged 65 years and over in four European countries. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of individuals aged 65 years or older from the population of retired persons (including recently retired persons and oldest-old individuals) from 4 European countries selected using quota sampling. In February 2016, an internet questionnaire was sent to all selected individuals. The characteristics used for the quota sampling method were sex, age, socio-professional category, region, city size, number of persons in household, autonomy, marital status, place of residence, income and educational status. The questionnaire contained 57 questions. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Responses were analysed with principal components analysis (PCA). RESULTS: A total of 4025 persons participated; 51% were males, and 70% were aged 65-75 years. PCA identified six classes of individuals, of which two classes (Classes 2 and 3) were characterized by more socially isolated individuals with little or no sense of usefulness, low self-esteem and a poor sense of well-being. These two classes accounted for almost 20% of the population. Younger and more autonomous classes reported a more salient sense of usefulness. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of the sense of usefulness is associated with dissatisfaction with life and a loss of pleasure, and persons with profiles corresponding to Classes 2 and 3 should, therefore, be targeted for interventions aimed at restoring social links.
Authors: Tara L Gruenewald; Arun S Karlamangla; Gail A Greendale; Burton H Singer; Teresa E Seeman Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Gregorio Bevilacqua; Karen A Jameson; Jean Zhang; Ilse Bloom; Nicholas R Fuggle; Harnish P Patel; Kate A Ward; Cyrus Cooper; Elaine M Dennison Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res Date: 2021-11-29 Impact factor: 3.636