Older adults' perceptions in the post-pandemic scenario: A study carried out in Portugal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2022.8.1.227Keywords:
Post-pandemic, Elderly, Critical ThinkingAbstract
Background and Aim: The pandemic context of Covid-19 aroused the emergence of other perceptions of human, social and economic relations. The Covid-19 effects were felt in several parts of the world, with the older adults’ population being one of the most affected, as they are more fragile and vulnerable. The social isolation of older adults was linked to feelings of loneliness due to the confinement that affected the decrease in social contact. Within this framework, we formulated the following research question: In which way the Covid-19 context be able to shape older adults’ post-pandemic perceptions of their quality of life? In this regard, the present study's objectives were as follows: 1) To analyze the perceptions of the over-55s regarding the impact of the pandemic situation and its effects in the post-Covid-19 period. 2) To identify the impact of Covid-19 on Critical thinking in the over 55s; 3) To interpret how the over-55s project themselves into the future (post-pandemic). Method: Construction, validation, and application of an online questionnaire to 167 individuals aged 55 years or older between 15/09/2020 and 10/02/2021. Content analysis techniques and statistical analysis were used. Results: The results showed that the replies, regardless of age, gender, and academic background, valued health, financial issues, and social relationships. Critical thinking rose in awareness and critical reflection on how to live day to day and use of technologies better. Conclusion: This study points us to the need to build psychological, cultural, and spiritual defenses that we understand as resilience forms. I.e., building a culture of responsibility and ethic of life, sensitive to the needs of each person and the community. Critical thinking helps to overcome difficulties and to improve the quality of life.
Downloads
References
Almeida, M., Gutierres, G., & Marques, R. (2012). Qualidade de vida. Edições EACH.
Aminnejad, R., & Alikhani, R. (2020). Physical distancing or social distancing: That is the question. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 67, 1457–1458. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12630-020-01697-2
Ariawan, S. (2020). Building critical thinking in Covid-19 pandemic era: Impossible or I am possible? International Research Journal on Advanced Science HUB, 2(6), 127–130. https://doi.org/10.47392/IRJASH.2020.49
Bauman, S. (2001). Modernidade líquida. Jorge Zahar.
Bauman, Z., & Leoncini, T. (2018). Nados líquidos. Relógio D´Água.
Beauvoir, S. (1970). La vieillesse. Gallimard.
Brás, J. V., Gonçalves, M. N., & Quinta, J. (2020). In the mirror Game: Ubuntu philosophy and Umbundu. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 3(2), 374–384. https://doi.org/10.47191/IJMRA/V3-I12-18
Campos, L., Oliveira, M., & Caldas, J. (2020). COVID-19: sexual vulnerabilities and gender perspectives in Latin America. Health Care for Women International, 41(11–12), 1207–1209. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2020.1833884
Casero-Ripollés, A. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on the media system. Communicative and democratic consequences of news consumption during the outbreak. El Profesional de la Información, 29(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3145/EPI.2020.MAR.23
Crespo, J. (1990). A história do corpo. DIFEL.
Czeisler, M. É., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., Weaver, M. D., Robbins, R., Facer-Childs, E. R., Barger, L. K., Czeisler, C. A., Howard, M. E., & Rajaratnam, S. (2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, June 24-30, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(32), 1049–1057. https://doi.org/10.15585/MMWR.MM6932A1
Damásio, A. (2017). A estranha ordem das coisas. Círculo de Leitores.
Dominguez, C. (2015). Pensamento crítico na educação: Desafios atuais. UTAD - Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. http://hdl.handle.net/10348/4818
González-Sanguino, C., Ausín, B., Castellanos, M. Á., Saiz, J., López-Gómez, A., Ugidos, C., & Muñoz, M. (2020). Mental health consequences during the initial stage of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in Spain. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 172–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBI.2020.05.040
Hage, G. (2020). The haunting figure of the useless academic: Critical thinking in coronavirus time. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 23(4), 662–666. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549420926182
Harrison, M., Koenig, H. G., Hays, J. C., Eme-Akwari, A. G., & Pargament, K. I. (2001). The epidemiology of religious coping: A review of recent literature. International Review of Psychiatry, 13(2), 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540260124356
Instituto Nacional de Estatística. (2012). Censos 2011. Resultados definitivos. Portugal - 2011. Instituto Nacional de Estatística, I.P. https://tinyurl.com/censosine
Kalache, A. (2020). Trilhas da longevidade: Desafios diante da pandemia. Inteligência educacional. https://tinyurl.com/yn594yhd
Krovetz, M. (2008). Fostering resilience: Expecting all students to use their minds and hearts well (2ª ed.). Corwin Press.
Lee, K., Jeong, G.-C., & Yim, J. (2020). Consideration of the psychological and mental health of the elderly during COVID-19: A theoretical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), Artigo 8098. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17218098
Lins, V. L. U. (2001). Gerontomotricidade e o mundo da vida - Aspectos epistemológicos para um novo ciclo do desenvolvimento humano [Tese de doutoramento, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa]. Catálogo Coletivo da Universidade de Lisboa. https://tinyurl.com/mu3sn6sx
Liu, N., Zhang, F., Wei, C., Jia, Y., Shang, Z., Sun, L., Wu, L., Sun, Z., Zhou, Y., Wang, Y., & Liu, W. (2020). Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: Gender differences matter. Psychiatry Research, 287, Artigo 112921. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PSYCHRES.2020.112921
Lucchetti, G., Góes, L. G., Amaral, S. G., Ganadjian, G. T., Andrade, I., Almeida, P. O. de A., do Carmo, V. M., & Manso, M. E. G. (2020). Spirituality, religiosity and the mental health consequences of social isolation during Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Artigo 0020764020970996. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020970996
Margaça, C., & Rodrigues, D. (2021). Religiosidade e funcionamento mental em idosos portugueses: Uma perspetiva sociopsicológica. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 37, Artigo e37219. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772E37219
Marôco, J. (2007). Análise estatística (3.ª ed.). Sílabo.
Martins, E. C. (2013). Gerontologia/gerontagogia: Animação sociocultural em idosos. Editorial Cáritas.
Mendonça, T. (2012). Estação central. Assírio & Alvim.
Mendonça, J. T. (2014). Que coisas são as nuvens. Revista Expresso. https://expresso.pt/cultura/que-coisa-sao-as-nuvens-jose-tolentino-mendonca-responde=f920266
Minois, G. (1999). História da velhice no ocidente. Editorial Teorema.
Panzini, R. G., Rocha, N. S. da, Bandeira, D. R., & Fleck, M. P. de A. (2007). Qualidade de vida e espiritualidade. Revista Psiquiatria Clínica, 34(Supl. 1), 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000700014
Ramilo, M. T. (1997). Efeitos motores e biológicos de um programa de actividade física de acentuação aeróbica numa população de mulheres idosas [Tese de doutoramento não publicada, Universidade do Porto].
Ramilo, M. T., Melo, A., & Romeiro, M. L. (1995). Multidisciplinary skills in the field of health and well being associated in a program of health education for the elderly [Postér]. Physical Education in the Elderly. III International Conference EGREPA. Rehabilitation Collection. Ministério de Trabajo y Assuntos Sociales. Instituto Nacional de Servicios Sociales, Espanha.
Rice, W. L., Mateer, T. J., Reigner, N., Newman, P., Lawhon, B., & Taff, B. D. (2020). Changes in recreational behaviors of outdoor enthusiasts during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis across urban and rural communities. Journal of Urban Ecology, 6(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/JUE/JUAA020
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1093/GERONT/37.4.433
Santos, N. (2020). Pensar o futuro: Portugal e o mundo depois da COVID-19. Porto Editora.
Scheer, A., Noweski, C., & Meinel, C. (2012). Transforming constructivist learning into action: Design thinking in education. Design and Technology Education An International Journal, 17(3), 8–19. https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/DATE/article/view/1758
Seidl, E., & Zanon, C. (2004). Qualidade de vida e saúde: aspetos conceptuais e metodológicos. Papirus.
Slameto, S. (2017). Critical thinking and its affecting factors. Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora, 18(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.23917/HUMANIORA.V18I2.5187
Tufan, Z. Z., & Kayaaslan, B. (2020). Crushing the curve, the role of national and international institutions and policy makers in COVID-19 pandemic. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 50, 495–508. https://doi.org/10.3906/SAG-2004-167
Vahia, I. V., Jeste, D. V., & Reynolds III, C. F. (2020). Older adults and the mental health effects of COVID-19. Journal of the American Medical Association, 324(22), 2253–2254. https://doi.org/10.1001/JAMA.2020.21753
Vaillant, G. E., & Mukamal, K. (2001). Successful aging. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(6), 839–847. https://doi.org/10.1176/APPI.AJP.158.6.839
WHOQOL Group. (1995). The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Social Science & Medicine, 41(10), 1403–1409. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00112-K
Zhao, E., Wu, Q., Crimmins, E. M., & Ailshire, J. A. (2020). Media trust and infection mitigating behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA. BMJ Global Health, 5(10), Artigo e003323. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJGH-2020-003323
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 António Carmo, José Brás, Maria Neves Gonçalves, Maria Teresa Ramilo, Paulo Silvestre

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors retain the copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License that allows the sharing of work and recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
