DEXSAGE · Daily Experiences of Successful Ageing
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-08-01 → 2021-07-31
- EU contribution
- €186,167
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Daily Experiences of Successful Ageing
Population ageing has been identified by the European Commission as one of the major social and political challenges of the 21st century. Older adults constitute an increasing share of developed societies. Their active engagement in life is important for all social parties: individuals, their families, local communities, economic markets, and social institutions. Rewarding daily activities may greatly increase their wellbeing and promote active engagement in life in a variety of forms. This study looked at older adults’ everyday experiences and at how these experiences are subjectively evaluated by them. Specifically, it is investigated how daily activities affect individuals’ momentary wellbeing, including stress and enjoyment, and whether they influence the overall satisfaction with life. The study addressed three broad research questions: 1) how older adults organize their days, 2) how particular daily events are experienced by them, and 3) how objective events and their subjective evaluation are linked with individual’s sociodemographic characteristics and their subjective wellbeing or satisfaction with life in general. The action concluded with four scientific publications submitted to peer-reviewed journals, three conference presentations, an information brochure for older adults in three language versions, several articles in the media, and a brief talk on the topic of the action in a popular TV programme. The project fond that, among others, the intensity, location, and emotional assessment of daily activities influence the in-situ wellbeing, and, in turn, the in-situ wellbeing is associated with individuals' satisfaction with life.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Older adults’ daily experiences were shown to be detrimental to their Successful Ageing. Empirical studies demonstrate that the type and quality of daily activities are constitutive for senior citizens' Quality of Life, and for how many more years they would like to live. Meanwhile, there are very few studies collecting data on daily activities from respondents aged 65+. Even fewer collect information on respondent’s evaluation of these activities. This project aims to give voice to the respondents by collecting data on everyday events and their subjective perception by individuals aged 65+. It will use a time-use approach, i.e, Experience Sampling Method (ESM) including important methodological innovations. Three algorithms will be used to collect different but compatible sets of time-based data and allow for comparative analyses between them. Data collection will take one week per person and each individual will provide information on 15-50 time-points. First algorithm will use classic ESM approach to provide information on how events are plotted across the day and the week, and how wellbeing fluctuates depending on time and day. Second algorithm will allow respondents recording events which are meaningful to them and most detrimental to their wellbeing. Third algorithm will provide information on events considered essential for how a day is structured. Altogether the three datasets will be used to answer questions about the dynamics of elderly’s days, how they experience different activities and how these experiences affect their wellbeing and quality of life. We aim at promoting this project as bringing essential new knowledge not only for policy-makers but also for practitioners and elderly individuals themselves. Along with scientific publications, easy-to-understand brochures including main findings and recommendations will be made available online.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- SYNYO GmbH · WienCoordinatorAustria
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union