PERCEPTION OF AGING FROM THE ELDERLY PERSPECTIVE: A METAPHOR STUDY

Öz

The perception of aging which directly affects success fulaging may differ according to socioeconomic and cultural features. The aim of this study is to reveal the perceptions of elderly individuals about the concept of "aging" through metaphors. This research is in the phenomenological design, which is one of the qualitative research designs. The study included 206 individuals aged 65 and over. The research data were obtained with sociodemographic data and the participant's completion of the sentences "Aging is like/similar…..Because…....". Categories were created from the metaphors produced by the participants and presented with supporting examples. Participants with a meanage of 70.11±6.28 created 99 metaphors related to the perception of old aging. As a result of the analysis of the created metaphors "irreversible difficult process” (45.6%), “the process through which the accumulation is transferred” (23.3%), “opportunity process for new experiences” (12.6%), “process of change with its positive and negative aspects” (10.2%), “process of exhaustion and loneliness” (8.3%)" five categories were obtained for the perception of aging. According to the obtained categories were determined half of the individuals (53.9%) aged 65 and over attribute negative meaning to aging. This result shows the necessity of planning studies to improve the perceptions of aging.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Metaphor
• Aging
• Older adults

YAŞLI PERSPEKTİFİNDEN YAŞLILIK ALGISI: BİR METAFOR ÇALIŞMASI

Öz

Başarılı yaşlanmayı doğrudan etkileyen yaşlılık algısı sosyoekonomik, kültürel özelliklere göre farklılık gösterebilir. Bu çalışma ile yaşlı bireylerin “yaşlılık’’ kavramına ilişkin algılarının metaforlar aracılığıyla ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırma nitel araştırma desenlerinden biri olan fenomenolojik desendedir. Araştırmaya 65 yaş ve üzeri206 birey dahil edilmiştir. Araştırmanın verileri sosyo-demografik bilgiler ve katılımcıların “Yaşlılık....................gibidir/benzer. Çünkü....................’’cümlesini tamamlamaları ile elde edilmiştir. Katılımcıların ürettikleri metaforlardan kategoriler oluşturulmuş ve destekleyici örneklerle sunulmuştur. Yaş ortalaması 70.11±6.28 olan katılımcılar yaşlılık algısına ilişkin 99 metafor oluşturmuşlardır. Bu metaforlar vasıtasıyla yaşlılık algısı için “geriye dönüşü olmayan zorlu süreç” (%45.6), “birikimin aktarıldığı süreç” (%23.3), “yeni deneyimler için fırsat süreci” (%12.6), “pozitif ve negatif yönleri ile değişim süreci” (%10.2), “tükenme ve yalnızlık süreci” (%8.3) olmak üzere beş kategori elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen kategoriler doğrultusunda; 65 yaş ve üstü bireylerin yarısının (%53.9) yaşlılığa olumsuz anlam yükledikleri saptanmıştır. Bu sonuç, yaşlılığa ilişkin algıları iyileştirmek için çalışmalar planlanmasının gerekliliğini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Metafor
• Yaşlanma
• Yaşlı

Kaynakça

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