Vyresnio amžiaus asmenų psichologinis atsparumas: raiška ir patirtys iššūkių akivaizdoje/Psychological resilience of older people: expression and experience in the face of challenges

Abstract

Developing resilience in ageing is becoming a key priority for individuals, families, and society. Researchers highlight the lack of resilience studies on the elderly and emphasize the importance ofsuccessful ageing. Research shows that older people have the same or higher levels of resilience than younger individuals. However, it is not clear what level and factors of psychological resilience arecharacteristi c of older people in the post-Soviet countries (Lithuania), where older people have undergone various politi cal and social changes and where their standard of living is lower than theEuropean average. The personal perspecti ve of older people helps to understand by looking deeper into the problem and reveals how they face life challenges and develop their resilience throughouttheir lives. The goal of the research is to reveal the expression of psychological resilience and experience of older people in the face of challenges in the course of life. A mixed study design consisti ng ofquanti tati ve and qualitati ve research was chosen for the study. The quanti tati ve study examines psychological resilience, and its factors in a representati ve sample of 18+ age groups, to identi fy andcompare the level of psychological resilience in the elderly and its factors with other adult age groups. Qualitati ve research is planned to conduct semi-structured interviews with a variety of olderpeople (60+ age) to uncover older people’s experiences, resources, and factors that aff ect their psychological resilience in the face of diffi culti es and to form a theory about older people’s psychologicalresilience in the face of challenges in the course of life. The results would contribute to successful and resilient ageing and encourage the development of strength-based interventi ons at both theindividual and community levels.