ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aimed to examine how participants aged 80 years old or over describe their mental well-being—exploring the suitability of the model of healthy ageing when outlining the mental well-being concept.

Methods: Six structured focus group interviews with 28 participants were conducted in Western Finland in 2017. Qualitative content analysis was performed, where both manifest and latent content was considered in a process involving meaning condensation and coding, followed by categorization.

Results: The healthy ageing model constituted a useful framework for the conceptualization of mental well-being, illustrating the links between these two constructs. The analysis resulted in a four-dimensional model of mental well-being in oldest old age, the key components being: Activities—enjoyment and fulfilment; Capability—functioning and independence; Orientation—awareness, shifted perspectives and values; and Connectedness—sense of belonging.

Conclusions: Although functional status plays an important role for well-being in general, it is not the principal component of self-reported mental well-being within the heterogeneous group of the oldest old. Further, many persons in this age group do not view themselves as passive or dependent, on the contrary, they underline the importance of empowering attitudes, a positive mindset and actively creating circumstances which support their mental well-being.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在研究80岁或80岁以上的参与者如何描述他们的心理健康-在概述心理健康概念时探索健康衰老模型的适用性。

方法：2017年在芬兰西部进行了六次结构化焦点小组访谈，共28名参与者。进行了定性内容分析，在涉及意思浓缩和编码，分类的过程中考虑了显性和隐性内容。

结果：健康的衰老模型为心理健康的概念化提供了一个有用的框架，阐明了这两种结构之间的联系。通过分析得出了最年老的心理健康的四个维度的模型，其主要组成部分是：活动-享乐和成就感；能力-功能和独立性；方向—意识，观点和价值观的转变；和联系-归属感。

结论：尽管功能状态总体上对幸福感起着重要作用，但它并不是年龄最大的异类人群自我报告的心理幸福感的主要组成部分。此外，这个年龄段的许多人并不认为自己是被动的或依赖的，相反，他们强调了赋权态度，积极的心态和积极创造支持其心理健康的环境的重要性。