Psychosocial dimensions of exceptional longevity: a qualitative exploration of centenarians' experiences, personality, and life strategies.
This qualitative study provides a comprehensive account of the social and life experiences and strategies and personality attributes that characterize exceptional longevity (living to 100 or over). It is based on nine semi-structured interviews of relatively healthy and functional Greek centenarians of both sexes. The analytic approach was thematic and based on grounded theory. We found that our participants were characterized by selectiveness in their socializing with other people and tendency to avoid conflicts. Also, we found that they predominantly used the "flight" response whenever confronted with stressors. Further, they appeared to be much adaptive as they had managed to overcome adversity and adapt successfully to major life changes. These findings provide insights into three possible pathways (social selectivity, conflict avoidance, and adaptiveness) through which psychosocial factors might be associated with aging and exceptional longevity.
Darviri
Christina
C
Department of Health Visiting, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Greece. chridarviri@teiath.gr
Demakakos
Panayotes
P
Tigani
Xanthi
X
Charizani
Fotini
F
Tsiou
Chrysoula
C
Tsagkari
Christina
C
Chliaoutakis
Joannes
J
Monos
Dimitrios
D
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors