RESEARCH PAPER
Senility and solitude of elderly people in the perception of young people
1
Zakład Patologii i Rehabilitacji Mowy, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie
2
Zakład Etyki i Filozofii Człowieka, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie
3
Instytut Medycyny Wsi im. Witolda Chodźki w Lublinie
4
Oddział Rehabilitacji, Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny im. Prof. Adama Grucy
Corresponding author
Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2016;22(2):140-144
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and aim:
Life situations and problems faced by seniors are issues that increasingly more often undertaken in studies and theoretical considerations. Old age is a stage in life that poses new challenges and difficulties, especially solitude and a sense of desolation that seniors often face. The aim of this study was to illustrate how students from Lublin universities perceive the issue of solitude among seniors and to discover what kind of attitudes they have towards senile people.
Material and Methods:
The study included 201 students from two universities in Lublin: Medical University and Maria Curie Skłodowska University, and was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey, using a questionnaire technique. The research instrument was a questionnaire designed by the author containing 18 items. Analysis of the collected research material was performed using STATISTICA 10 statistical software and Microsoft Office Excel.
Results:
Statistical relationships were found between respondents’ age and the type of university, and their perceptions concerning senility. Students identified senility with limitations of physical efficacy (p=0.006) and social exclusion (p=0.035). A relationship was observed between a positive attitude towards seniors and, at the same time, perceiving them as wise, understanding, happy and helpful to others (p=0.009).
Conclusions:
The study of the social opinion regarding senility and social roles performed by the seniors constitutes an excellent way of analyzing the situation of the older population group. The majority of the respondents declared their positive attitude towards seniors. The results of the survey did not show negative attitudes towards seniors. According to a considerable number of the students in the survey, solitude is an inherent element of senility.
Life situations and problems faced by seniors are issues that increasingly more often undertaken in studies and theoretical considerations. Old age is a stage in life that poses new challenges and difficulties, especially solitude and a sense of desolation that seniors often face. The aim of this study was to illustrate how students from Lublin universities perceive the issue of solitude among seniors and to discover what kind of attitudes they have towards senile people.
Material and Methods:
The study included 201 students from two universities in Lublin: Medical University and Maria Curie Skłodowska University, and was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey, using a questionnaire technique. The research instrument was a questionnaire designed by the author containing 18 items. Analysis of the collected research material was performed using STATISTICA 10 statistical software and Microsoft Office Excel.
Results:
Statistical relationships were found between respondents’ age and the type of university, and their perceptions concerning senility. Students identified senility with limitations of physical efficacy (p=0.006) and social exclusion (p=0.035). A relationship was observed between a positive attitude towards seniors and, at the same time, perceiving them as wise, understanding, happy and helpful to others (p=0.009).
Conclusions:
The study of the social opinion regarding senility and social roles performed by the seniors constitutes an excellent way of analyzing the situation of the older population group. The majority of the respondents declared their positive attitude towards seniors. The results of the survey did not show negative attitudes towards seniors. According to a considerable number of the students in the survey, solitude is an inherent element of senility.
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