| Abstract | Starenje je nezaobilazan životni proces tijekom kojeg se događaju promjene u funkciji dobi. Uspješno starenje u osnovi se odnosi na održavanje tjelesnih i kognitivnih funkcija na visokoj razini te na aktivnu uključenost i zadovoljstvo životom u starijoj dobi. Prema psihosocijalnom modelu uspješnog starenja, psihosocijalne varijable važna su odrednica uspješnog starenja. Neke od psihosocijalnih varijabli koje određuju uspješno starenje jesu konstrukti psihološke otpornosti i socijalne podrške. Otpornost se može definirati kao mogućnost efikasnog suočavanja sa stresorima, odnosno mogućnost osobe da izdrži i/ili se lako i brzo oporavi od teških životnih situacija uz zadržavanje normalnog fiziološkog i psihološkog funkcioniranja. Nadalje, socijalna podrška se može definirati kao proces koji pojedincu osigurava pomoć i podršku ili pak kao percepciju ili iskustvo suosjećanja, brige, pomoći koje pojedinac doživljava. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati razlike u otpornosti, socijalnoj podršci i uspješnom starenju s obzirom na spol i dob ispitanika kao i povezanost među navedenim varijablama kod osoba starije životne dobi. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 540 osoba starije životne dobi koje žive u vlastitom domu pri čemu su rezultati prikupljeni primjenom upitnika tipa papir-olovka. Upitnik se sastojao od Kratke skale otpornosti, prilagođene skale socijalne podrške, dok je uspješno starenje ispitano pitanjima koja procjenjuju uspješno starenje kao ishod u danoj vremenskoj točki i kao proces. U ovom istraživanju utvrđeno je da su muškarci otporniji u odnosu na žene. No, nije utvrđena razlika između muškaraca i žena u uspješnom starenju kao procesu i ishodu te socijalnoj podršci članova obitelji, prijatelja i susjeda i ukupnoj socijalnoj podršci. Nadalje, mlađe stare osobe imaju bolju socijalnu podršku prijatelja i susjeda kao i ukupnu socijalnu podršku. Nadalje, nije utvrđena razlika u otpornosti, uspješnom starenju kao procesu i ishodu i socijalnoj podršci članova obitelji između mlađih starih osoba i starijih starih osoba. Utvrđena je umjerena pozitivna povezanost između otpornosti te uspješnog starenja kao procesa i ishoda. Nadalje, utvrđena je slaba pozitivna povezanost između uspješnog starenja kao procesa i ishoda i socijalne podrške prijatelja i susjeda te ukupne socijalne podrške. Međutim, nije utvrđena povezanost između uspješnog starenja kao procesa i ishoda sa socijalnom podrškom članova obitelji. |
| Abstract (english) | Aging is an unavoidable process that occurs throughout life and which includes age related changes. The basis of successful aging is the sustainability of physical and cognitive functions at a higher level, an active engagement, and satisfaction with the quality of one's life during the declining years. According to the Psychosocial Theory of Successful Aging, psychosocial variables are an important indicator of successful aging. Some of these psychosocial variables include psychological resilience and social support. Resilience can be defined as the ability to effectively deal with potentially stressful events and situations that is the ability of a person to endure and/or handle difficult situations, accidents, and illness swiftly and with ease, while maintaining normal physiological and psychological functioning. Furthermore, social support is a process that provides help and support to an individual. It can also be defined as a perception or experience of compassion, care, and help that an individual experience. This study aims to examine gender and age differences in resilience, social support, and successful aging and relationship between these variables in older people. 540 elderly people living in their own homes participated in the research, and the results were collected using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), an adapted scale of social support, while successful aging was examined with questions that assess successful aging as an outcome at a given time point and as a process. The results of the study indicate that men are more resilient than women. However, no difference was found between men and women in successful aging as a process and outcome, as well as social support from family members, friends, neighbors, and social support in general. Moreover, the results show that young elderly people have better social support when it comes to family and friends as well as social support in general. In addition to this, no difference was found in resilience, successful aging as a process and outcome, and social support of family members between younger seniors and older seniors. Furthermore, the results show moderately positive correlation between resilience and successful aging as a process and outcome. The results also show significant positive but low correlation between successful aging as a process and outcome and social support from friends and neighbors as well as general social support. However, correlation between successful aging as a process and outcome and social support from family members was not significant. |
