Vidyasova L.A. Active and delayed aging in the assessments of the elderly (according to a pilot study in St. Petersburg). The Journal of Social Policy Studies. 2023. Vol. 21. No. 3. Pp. 485-502. DOI: 10.17323 ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://jsps.hse.ru/index.php/jsps/article/view/18266 (дата обращения 14.01.2024)

Abstract

In modern conditions of total uncertainty and rapid social transformations, the processes of shifts in the policies of social states that ensure the quality of life, including the elderly, play an important role. Based on the discourse of active / delayed aging and methods for its assessment, we try to identify possible links between the labor and communication activity of the elderly, their quality of life and delayed aging, using data from a survey of older people living in a large metropolis. The theoretical framework of the study was formed by studies on active aging, the level of happiness, and subjective well-being of the elderly, such as Active Aging Index, Global Age Watch, SHARE LIFE, Global Aging Adult Health (SAGE), Human Development Index, Active Longevity Index, etc. Their parameters were used to collect and analyze data from our own pilot study, a survey of elderly people in medical institutions in St. Petersburg. As a result, we have identified factors that influence the active position of the elderly and shape the perception of delayed aging. According to our data, employment and social participation are the main parameters of active longevity, which correlates with international documents. The continuation of work, the maintenance of social ties and communication, both in person and in distant format, generally has a positive effect on the self-perception of the elderly. On the contrary, health status has a significant effect on the motivation of the elderly to stop working and does not restrict physical activity. Chronic diagnoses do not affect the perception of age. Based on the research data, the authors offer recommendations for adjusting social policies to improve the quality of life of the elderly and increase the number of those who postpone their aging.