Depressive symptoms in elderly people participating in University of the Third Age and residents of Nursing Homes: the role of optimism and acceptance of passing

Authors

  • Edyta Idczak-Paceś The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Psychology, Warsaw
  • Adrian Kabat The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Psychology, Warsaw
  • Adrianna Krzywik The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Warsaw
  • Iwona Nowakowska The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Psychology, Warsaw

https://doi.org/10.17583/rasp.2021.5782

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Abstract

The elderly age group needs particular support in preventing development of depressive symptoms, among others, due to the prospect of passing. This group is heterogenous in terms of characteristics of ways of spending leisure time, which, as an important aspect of everyday life affecting the quality of interpersonal relationships and well-being, might be related to the level of their depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to find out whether participation in University of Third Age (UTA; leisure time spending directed at personal development) activities versus being a Nursing Home resident (NH; leisure time spending, directed at compensation of difficulties associated to the aging process) may differentiate elderly people in terms of the level of depression taking into account their optimism and acceptance of passing. The study was paper-pencil questionnaire-based, conducted on a sample of people above the age of 59: participants of UTA (N=48) and NH (N=54). In the UTA group, consistently for all levels of acceptance of passing, the higher the level of optimism, the lower the depressive symptoms. However, for the NH group, the higher the acceptance of passing, the lower the role of optimism in predicting depressive symptoms.

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Author Biography

Edyta Idczak-Paceś, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Psychology, Warsaw

All four authors contributed equally to the study and therefore should be considered first co-authors.

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Published

2021-07-30

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How to Cite

Idczak-Paceś, E., Kabat, A., Krzywik, A., & Nowakowska, I. (2021). Depressive symptoms in elderly people participating in University of the Third Age and residents of Nursing Homes: the role of optimism and acceptance of passing. Research on Ageing and Social Policy, 9(2), 105–132. https://doi.org/10.17583/rasp.2021.5782

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Articles