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Comprehending socio-relational factors of mental wellbeing in the oldest old within Nordic and Mediterranean countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2021

Chiara Castelletti ,
Natalia Martín-María ,
Johanna Cresswell-Smith ,
Anna K. Forsman ,
Johanna Nordmyr ,
Marian Ådnanes ,
Valeria Donisi ,
Francesco Amaddeo ,
Marta Miret  and
Elvira Lara Open the ORCID record for Elvira Lara [Opens in a new window]
Chiara Castelletti
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain
Natalia Martín-María
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
Johanna Cresswell-Smith
Affiliation:
Mental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
Anna K. Forsman
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Health Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
Johanna Nordmyr
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Health Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
Marian Ådnanes
Affiliation:
Department of Health Research, SINTEF Technology and Society, Trondheim, Norway
Valeria Donisi
Affiliation:
Unit of Clinical Psychology, Verona University Hospital (AOUI-VR), Verona, Italy
Francesco Amaddeo
Affiliation:
Unit of Psychosomatic and Medical Psychology, Verona University Hospital (AOUI-VR), Verona, Italy
Marta Miret
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
Elvira Lara*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
*
*Corresponding author. Email: elvira.lara@uam.es
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Abstract

Socio-relational aspects are essential for mental wellbeing (MWB), especially in the oldest old age. Our study aims to explore the socio-relational aspects related to MWB in accordance with the experiences of the oldest old of four European countries; and to examine how these differ between Mediterranean and Nordic people. A total of 117 participants aged 80+ years old were recruited, and 23 focus groups were performed. Qualitative content analysis identified five main themes. Family seemed to be the most important driver of the MWB of the oldest old, followed by relationships with close friends. Participants felt better when they had a sense of being needed, cared for, and connected. Loneliness and isolation negatively affected MWB, although solitude was appreciated. Differences appeared between Mediterranean and Nordic regions. Initiatives to promote positive interactions with family and friends, as well as social activities within the community, may contribute to strengthening MWB in the oldest old.

Keywords

wellbeingfinal years of lifesocio-relational aspectsqualitative analysisfocus group
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 43 , Issue 9 , September 2023 , pp. 2001 - 2021
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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