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Views of Future Aging Among Middle-Aged, University Educated Women*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Cécile C. Quirouette  and
Dolores Pushkar
Cécile C. Quirouette
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Dolores Pushkar
Affiliation:
Concordia University
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Abstract

This study explored middle-aged, university educated women's views of their own future aging, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques. Seventy-four university graduates, aged 45 to 65, were interviewed about their views of aging and their employment histories. They also completed questionnaires measuring personality, self-efficacy, well-being, depression and social support. Content analysis of interview responses revealed that most women were optimistic about their own old age and expected overall stability in themselves, their financial situation and their relationships, with an improvement in the area of leisure. Positive expectations of stability were associated with satisfaction with oneself and past accomplishments. A typology of accommodation to future aging, derived from the data on women's expectations and preparations, captured four patterns of cognitive, affective and behavioural dynamics. Women with different accommodation types differed primarily on well-being, neuroticism and employment histories.

Résumé

Cette étude sur les perspectives de vieillissement des femmes d'âge moyen a été effectuée à partir de méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives. Soixante-quatorze diplômées universitaires âgées de 45 à 65 ans furent interviewées sur leur perspectives de vieillissement et leur histoire d'emploi, puis remplirent des questionnaires mesurant la personnalité, l'auto-efficacité, le bien-être, la dépression et le soutien social. L'analyse qualitative a révélé que la majorité des femmes étaient optimistes et s'attendaient à peu de changement en elle-mêmes, leur situation financière et leurs relations personnelles, mais à de l'amélioration dans le domaine des loisirs. Les attentes positives de stabilité étaient associées à un sentiment de satisfaction de soi et de ses réalisations passées. Une typologie d'adaptation au vieillissement anticipé a été développée sur la base des données concernant les attentes et les préparatifs des femmes. Les quatre profil-types, illustrant des dynamiques cognitives, affectives et comportementales distinctes, différaient en fonction des variables de bien-être, de névrotisme et d'histoire d'emploi.

Keywords

AgingWomenMiddle-AgedExpectationsPreparationsQualitative.Vieillissementfemmesd'âge moyenattentespréparatifsqualitative.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , Été/Summer 1999 , pp. 236 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1999

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