A satisfação com a vida de pessoas idosas frequentadoras de um parque municipal

Abstract

Introduction: With the advances in the “look” related to health care, it is notable that the culture of active aging in line with the perspective of health promotion brings with it signs of success indicated by the increase in life expectancy of the population. However, this increase in life expectancy poses new challenges for different sectors and social institutions. Is it that when you live more, you live, too, more satisfactorily? Objective: As a general objective, we sought to: Understand the experience of satisfaction with the life of elderly people who participate in activities aimed at active aging and healthy lifestyle. As specific objectives, we sought to: Identify aspects related to life satisfaction, subjective well-being and psychological well-being in research conducted with elderly people in Brazil in the last decade (2008-2018); Analyze the level of satisfaction with life in elderly people who participate in activities (physical, cultural, recreational, educational and work) at a community center in Manaus; Understand what are the main aspects that appear related to the feeling of satisfaction with life, in the perception of these elderly people. Methodology: To achieve these objectives, a study with a quali-quanti approach was designed, consisting of three subparts. First, an integrative literature review. Second, a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical part, with the application of sociodemographic questions, health conditions and lifestyle, and a scale of satisfaction with life with five objective questions. Third, a qualitative part using as a data collection strategy the writing of letters, produced by the participants about what makes life satisfactory or not. To treat the data, Statistical Analysis of quantitative data and Content Analysis for qualitative data were obtained. The interpretive construction of the data was made from the Historical-Cultural perspective. A total of 326 subjects entered by accessibility criteria participated in the study. Results: Recent research shows that the elderly people's perception of themselves (whether or not they are satisfied with life) is correlated to global health (which comprises the physical, psychological, social and relational aspects). And that, in light of this, research and interventions have been carried out that favor the construction of psychosocial practices and public policies aimed at the well-being and quality of life of the elderly. Quantitative analyzes demonstrate that elderly women have higher averages of satisfaction with life than elderly men. And, the elderly people in the south-central zone and those over 80 years old had higher levels in terms of living conditions as excellent. People over 80 were the ones who had the highest levels in terms of declaring that they would change almost nothing in the way they lived life, if they could live it again. In qualitative analyzes, satisfaction with life appears related to “Affective Relationships”, “Healthy Lifestyle”, “Human Development Phase” and “Religiosity”. Affective relationships and the conditions for maintaining these relationships appear as the essence of the feeling of satisfaction with the life of the elderly participants of this research.