Toward a discourse shift in social gerontology: From successful aging to harmonious aging

Successful aging, though controversial, is used as an overarching conceptual framework in social gerontology. In this theory critique, the discourse of successful aging is identified as problematic with respect to four dimensions. First, successful aging is ageist in nature, and it produces a disharmony between body and mind. Second, successful aging, with the emphasis on quantifiable activities driven by the “busy ethic,” overlooks the deeper concern of quality experience. Third, the capitalist and consumerist components of successful aging are under-addressed. Fourth, successful aging is a discourse developed upon Western (specifically American) values and thus may not readily apply to other cultures.Harmonious aging, as proposed, is inspired by the Yin–Yang philosophy. Harmony refers to the balance based on differences instead of uniformity. This new discourse aims to recognize the challenges and opportunities of old age itself, ease the tension between activity and disengagement theories, heal the integrity of body and mind, and emphasize the interdependent nature of human beings. The call for the discourse shift attempts to promote intellectual exploration of what constitutes a good old age and to capture more cross-cultural diversities in the context of global aging. This theoretical endeavor is important to change the status quo of gerontology as being “data rich but theory poor,” and to contribute to cross-cultural gerontological research, education and communication.     

Legacy effect of trees in the heritage landscape of a peri-urban golf course

Negative environmental impacts of golf courses have received more attention than positive ecological contributions. We studied the mature tree communities and their legacy effect in a historical urban-fringe golf-course site in Hong Kong covering 170-ha with well-managed natural-cum-cultural landscape. Some 44.3 % of the site is covered mainly by large trees forming a mature peri-urban forest. The 94 species in 35 families offer a high species diversity exceeding local secondary and climax fengshui woodlands with notable rare and protected species. Tree species composition, richness and legacy effects brought by anthropogenic and natural factors were investigated by three habitats with varying naturalness and three golf courses with different age. Landscape zone is remarkably heterogeneous versus other microhabitats (fairway and woodland) and the heterogeneity of tree communities amongst the three courses is relatively weak. Synergistic operation of natural regeneration (natural legacy effect) and anthropogenic management (anthropogenic legacy effect) has fostered diversity accumulation. On the one hand, temporal changes in landscape fashion through a century and variations in site management have driven and maintained species diversity. On the other hand, the founder effect of inherited and cultivated species, as well as successful invasion and establishment of native species, have imposed floristic imprint and inertia on woodland habitat. The findings suggested that urban golf courses can serve as potential hotspots for biodiversity conservation within urban ecosystems.     

The Relational Systems Model: An Analysis of Gottman's Findings on Marital Success

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews John Gottman's research on marriages through an overlay of the recently developed Relational Systems Model (RSM) by Ray Bardill. Gottman's findings, which identified three styles of marriages that sustain themselves over time and identified those actions that indicate the resolution of conflicts or the eventual ending of the marital relationship, can be interpreted by Bardill's RSM model. Such an interpretation can be made through the concepts of self-differentiation; the realities of self, other, context and spirituality; multigenerational transmission of values and beliefs; and emotionalized right/wrong.

The RSM model effectively illuminates Gottman's work and develops additional categories for illustrating why people stay in or leave relationships. The introduction of the emotionalized right/wrong concept produces a self-regulating component for the individual and a self defining component for the family. In keeping with Gottman's research, the RSM model provides integration of both positivistic and constructionistic elements as well as familiar insights into the eco-systemic nature of the marital system.     

Getting my stories straight: A narrativist in quest of congruence

Drawing on his work in the area of narrative gerontology, the author reflects on the measure of congruence that exists between the theories he has been developing about the storied complexity of adult development and his lived experience as an aging individual himself. His reflections include a discussion of his former career as a parish minister and his ongoing passion for “the writing life”. He concludes with some speculation on the possibility of combining his interests in narrative and aging with his continuing interest in theological themes.     

A conceptual framework for examining the promise of the NORC program and Village models to promote aging in place

A growing paradigm shift emphasizes efforts to promote aging in place not only by helping aging individuals and families, but also by addressing and engaging communities. This paper explores the idea of developing community supports for aging in place by examining two models that incorporate this approach into practice: Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Programs (NORC programs) and Villages. Drawing on research regarding social–relational aspects of communities and later-life health and well-being, we present an integrative conceptual framework positing three categories of activities and services (civic engagement and empowerment activities; social relationship building activities; services to enhance access to resources)–as well as the initial outcomes and intermediate outcomes–through which the NORC program and Village models potentially achieve their long-term goal of promoting aging in place. Based on this framework, we conclude with directions for future research on community initiatives that support aging in place.     

Feminist disability theory: domestic violence against women with a disability

Women with a disability continue to experience social oppression and domestic violence as a consequence of gender and disability dimensions. Current explanations of domestic violence and disability inadequately explain several features that lead women who have a disability to experience violent situations. This article incorporates both disability and material feminist theory as an alternative explanation to the dominant approaches (psychological and sociological traditions) of conceptualising domestic violence. This paper is informed by a study which was concerned with examining the nature and perceptions of violence against women with a physical impairment. The emerging analytical framework integrating material feminist interpretations and disability theory provided a basis for exploring gender and disability dimensions. Insight was also provided by the women who identified as having a disability in the study and who explained domestic violence in terms of a gendered and disabling experience. The article argues that material feminist interpretations and disability theory, with their emphasis on gender relations, disablism and poverty, should be used as an alternative tool for exploring the nature and consequences of violence against women with a disability.     

A new ‘aging males’ symptoms' rating scale

Unlike in women, where instruments are available to measure the severity of symptoms, standardized instruments are lacking for aging males. However, a new ‘aging males’ symptoms' (AMS) rating scale has been developed in the present study, as well as reference values.

A total of 116 medically well-characterized males (aged over 40 years) were recruited to complete a questionnaire of symptoms, the prevalence of which commonly changes with increasing age. Factor analysis was used to establish the raw scale and to identify the dimensions of the scale. This raw scale was applied to a large representative population sample of 992 German males, to establish reference values for the severity of symptoms in males over 40 years.

Three dimensions of symptoms were identified in the patient group: a psychological, a somatovegetative and a sexual factor, that explained 51.6% of the total variance. Reference values of the three dimensions were defined to be used in daily practice. The severity of symptoms assessed using the AMS scale was found to be related to the clinically defined ‘male climacteric’ in the patient group.

The AMS scale is a new and valuable tool for assessing aging males' symptomsc and can be easily used in practice.     

Population aging and long-term care policies in the Gulf region: a case study of Oman

Population aging is a phenomenon occurring across the globe including in countries traditionally exhibiting population dividends and “youth bulges.” The Gulf Corporation Council countries are no exception as they currently experience a process of population aging, albeit at a different stage from many developed countries. However, due to historically high fertility rates and fast-paced epidemiological transition, some of these countries will experience population aging at a higher pace than what has been observed in Europe and the United States. This article reviews recent developments in long-term care policies in the Gulf region with a focus on Oman as an example of a high-income Arab country that is experiencing population aging while still being governed by traditional family aged-care norms. Utilizing existing data and published research complemented by policy analysis and field visits, we analyze the process of population aging in Oman and neighboring countries and its policy implications.     

‘The engine just started coughing!’ — Limits of physical performance,aging and career continuity in elite endurance sports

This research examines male endurance athletes' experience of aging and/or reaching the perceived limits of physical performance. More specifically, the current study aimed to explore how existential meanings attached to these experiences are connected with athletes' decision-making concerning career continuity and retirement. Life story interviews were conducted with 10 Finnish runners and/or orienteers aged between 25 and 62 and the data was analyzed with an existential-narrative framework. Four major storylines related to aging were identified: The end of an era, putting things in perspective, the attitude has to change and winning was never the only motive. Our results suggest that endurance athletes possess diverse ways of bringing meaning to the experience of aging, both confirming and resisting the dominant cultural narrative of decline. While three athletes' stories confirmed the normativity of retirement when unable to improve their results anymore, other athletes demonstrated career continuity and positive aspects in the late career years, such as lack of competitive anxiety, finding perspective and increased enjoyment in running. We suggest that through awareness of alternative narratives, sport psychology consultants may be able to help their clients to explore new meanings in the potentially challenging and beneficial experiences of aging and athletic retirement.     

At the birth of second century sociology: times of reflexivity, spaces of identity, and nodes of knowledge

The sociology of the next century is likely to differ from that of the twentieth century. The current situation and the future prospects of sociology are assessed by spelling out the trajectory over the past century of sociology's predominant assumptions about the character and direction of the social world and of its own task of cognition. Sociology is located in three spaces of identity: a space of disciplines, a stage of everyday practice, and a space of imagination and investigation. From the cosmological, epistemological, and spatial trajectories some indications of a new, very different future of sociology are given. Finally, a way of preserving and developing the legacy of first century sociology is presented, in the form of nodes of knowledge, central to a 'typical' sociological approach to the social.     

Ageing in a spectacular 'youth culture': continuity, change and community amongst older goths

This article explores the continuing involvement in youth music and style cultures of older participants through examination of the case study of the goth scene. It does so in the context of a widespread neglect, until recently, of what happens to participants of 'youth cultures' as they move beyond adolescence and also of a growing consensus about the broadening of youth itself as a life course period. Drawing on recent work on older participants in other music and style related groupings, the article uses original qualitative research to examine the developing lives and identities of goths as they become older. Rather than regarding continuing participation as a simple extension of youth, the focus is on the ways participation accompanied and was reconciled with material, domestic and physical elements of developing adult lives. Through reference to the case study, I emphasize the ways the experience of ageing for long-term music and style culture participants can constitute a collective experience.     

The development of a pilot ‘thinking about relationships prompt sheet’ within an alcohol and other drugs rehabilitation programme

This paper documents the development of a programme component within an alcohol and other drugs residential service. Designed to improve relational competence, this pilot component was designed to have multiple levels of function: from the specific, for example, stimulating residents to formulate and monitor relationally oriented goals, to the more pacific, for example, embedding relationally focused learning as an ongoing rehabilitative concern. Development of the component began with a literature review. After finalising a set of relationship types (friends, siblings, etc.), this review identified three domains: ‘values’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘skills’. To create an initial draft, these categories were populated by items selected from a multi-stage inspection of the relevant literature. This draft was then reviewed by multiple stakeholder groups. Feedback from these consultations resulted in substantial modifications to the initial draft. In addition to the component having a broad-spectrum interventive purpose, the authors propose that this component could play a role in (i) pre-admission assessment and (ii) programme evaluation insofar as data concerning individual residents are aggregated and analysed.     

A Little Bit of Sugar: Integrated Service-Learning Courses

Approaches to integrated service learning are detailed for three courses—Organizational Theory, Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Skills. The focus of this paper is on the process of integration rather than the specifics of the courses. A faculty member interested in developing a service-learning component in a course is advised to (1) publicly identify the course as one that includes a service-learning experience, (2) be passionate, organized, flexible, and experienced, (3) establish an excellent relationship with a community agency, (4) be flexible about course content and schedule, (5) recognize that some students may have problems with an experience-based approach to learning, and (6) conduct periodic evaluations of all stages of the service-learning experience.     

The reinterpretation of finitude: An introduction to three articles on the philosophy of aging

Whereas the expected problems of population aging are discussed extensively in the mass media, with a strong emphasis on the costs of pensions and care in the future, philosophy has remained virtually silent about the many aspects of aging and gerontology relevant to the discipline. However, aging is not a new topic in philosophy; it only has to be reintroduced. Although the three authors offer different perspectives on aging, there is a common effort to reinterpret the fundamental experience of finitude in the light of aging.     

Application of a gender-based approach to conducting a community health assessment for rural women in Southern Illinois

Rural populations in the United States experience unique challenges in health and health care. The health of rural women, in particular, is influenced by their knowledge, work and family commitments, as well as environmental barriers in their communities. In rural southern Illinois, the seven southernmost counties form a region that experiences high rates of cancer and other chronic diseases. To identify, understand, and prioritize the health needs of women living in these seven counties, a comprehensive gender-based community health assessment was conducted with the goal of developing a plan to improve women's health in the region. A gender-analysis framework was adapted, and key stakeholder interviews and focus groups with community women were conducted and analyzed to identify factors affecting ill health. The gender-based analysis revealed that women play a critical role in the health of their families and their communities, and these roles can influence their personal health. The gender-based analysis also identified several gender-specific barriers and facilitators that affect women's health and their ability to engage in healthy behaviors. These results have important implications for the development of programs and policies to improve health among rural women.     

THE POLITICS OF THE DOORSTEP

This paper considers the legacy of continuing activism of women in the North East of England who organized in support of the 1984–85 miners’ strike. It refers to the traditional responsibility of women in mining localities for the maintenance of neighbourhood and kin relations and using the example of a key activist in one ex-mining village, it argues that the values associated with ‘mining community’ remain relevant as a reference point for a self-conscious, politicized reshaping of local relationships in post-industrial conditions. The material basis for this self-conscious approach has shifted from the masculine sphere of mining work and its associated community institutions to the feminized sphere of location and neighbourhood.     

Meeting Life Challenges

SUMMARY

Mental health and social service providers need to understand the contextual experience of diverse aging populations and the types of life challenges they have encountered. This research examined the life challenges specified by a purposive sample of 75 urban community-dwelling low-income older adults from four high-rise housing facilities. Thirty-four study participants were Jewish American and 41 were African American. Results indicate that many participants of both groups identified personal events such as bereavement and health as stressors, but only the Jewish Americans identified societal events such as World War II. Both groups found social resources moderately valuable in meeting life challenges, but religious resources were frequently identified by African American older adults and personal resources were highly endorsed by Jewish Americans, resulting in a hierarchy of coping styles for each group. Results suggest that mental health and social service providers can create interventions to reinforce and strengthen natural client resources that may vary according to ethnic and racial differences