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Unequal Social Engagement for Older Adults: Constraints on Choice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2012

Julia Rozanova ,
Norah Keating  and
Jacquie Eales
Julia Rozanova*
Affiliation:
Brown University
Norah Keating
Affiliation:
University of Alberta
Jacquie Eales
Affiliation:
University of Alberta
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Abstract

Although some studies have confirmed positive associations between social engagement and well-being in later life, this study aimed to understand why some seniors cannot be engaged. The authors analyzed the lived experiences of 89 seniors in three rural communities in Canada, from semi-structured interviews and using the constant comparison method. Five factors make choices for social engagement in later life unequal among older adults who differ by gender, class, age, and health status. Profound engagement in care work, compulsory altruism, personal resources, objectively perceived and subjectively available engagement opportunities, and ageist barriers around paid work constrain choices for seniors who lack privilege in the context of a market economy, particularly for low-income older women. To avoid stigmatizing vulnerable older persons, societal barriers to meaningful activities must be addressed – for example, through provision of income security or by reversing inter- and intragenerational ageism in access to the labor market.

Résumé

Bien que les associations positives entre l’engagement et le bien-être social dans la vie ultérieure ont été confirmées par certaines études, cette étude visait à comprendre pourquoi certaines personnes ainées ne peuvent pas être impliquées. Les auteurs ont analysé des expériences vécues de 89 ainés demeurant dans trois communautés rurales au Canada, raconté dans les entrevues demi-structuré, utilisant la méthode de comparaison constante. Cinq facteurs font des choix pour l’engagement social dans la vie ultérieure inégale parmi les personnes ainées qui diffèrent par le sexe, la classe, l’âge, et le statut de santé. L’engagement profond dans le travail de soin, l’altruisme obligatoire, les ressources personnelles, les occasions d’implication perçues objectivement et subjectivement disponibles, et les barrières ageistes autour des activités désirées comme le travail contraignent des choix pour les aînés qui manquent le privilège dans l’économie du marché, notamment pour les vieilles femmes à faibles revenus. Pour éviter nuire et stigmatiser les plus vieilles personnes vulnérables, les barrières sociales aux activités significatives doivent être abordées – par exemple, par la provision de sécurité de revenu ou renversant la discrimination en raison de l’âge dans l’accès au marché du travail.

Keywords

l’engagement socialinégalités structurellescommunautés ruralescontraignement de choixvieillissant biensocial engagementstructural inequalitiesrural areasconstraints on choiceaging well
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 25 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2012

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