rademacher w2

TURNING !NSIGHTS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

I DON‘T WANT TO BE 20 AGAIN A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON POSITIVE AGEING

DR. UTE RADEMACHER COLIBRI RESEARCH & COACHING INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT


WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN THINKING OF YOURSELF BEING 64?

2 © 2011 by COLIBRI RESEARCH



LOTS OF LEISURE TIME?



NEW FRIENDS?



NEW JOB?



IN THEORY

Old-‐age stereotypes InternalisaKon

Self-‐percepKons of aging

PosiGve self-‐percepGon of aging increases longevity (Slade, Kunkel & Kasl, 2002)



“This study found that posi0ve self-‐percep0ons of aging mea-‐ sured up to 23 years earlier contributed to individuals living longer. The advantage remained a=er we controlled for age, gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and func0onal health. Self-‐ percep0ons of aging had a greater impact on survival than did gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and func0onal health in this cohort.” POSITIVE SELF-‐PERCEPTION OF AGING INCREASES LONGEVITY (Slade, Kunkel & Kasl, 2002)



WHAT DOES SELF-‐PERCEPTION OF AGING MEAN IN REAL LIFE?



THE STUDY

!  12 IN-‐DEPTH INTERVIEWS !  CONDUCTED BY TRAINED PSYCHOLOGISTS !  WITH WOMEN AGED 45 TO 70 YEARS OLD !   IN THEIR HOMES !   LENGTH 2-‐3 HOURS EACH !   IN HAMBURG / GERMANY !  TOPIC GUIDE !  FLEXIBLE FLOW OF CONVERSATION



THEMES AND TOPICS



RICH EXPERIENCES



CELEBRATING THE MOMENT



COMPANIONS



HEALTH



TRUE LOVE & FRIENDSHIP



PASSION



REST



MAKING PEACE WITH THE PAST



HAVING FUN



A^ribuGon

Goals Experiences EmoGons

POSITIVE…



POSITIVE ATTRIBUTION

OPTIMISTIC ATTRIBUTION

“My past has been quite tough some0mes but I don’t want to miss the bad days since I heave learnt a lot through them. And I am really happy because of all the things I do. I feel to have an inner strength. I can rely upon myself much more than in the past. I always say: ‘That’s how it is for now and tomorrow it will be different!’. ”

(Renate, 65 yrs.)




“I always wanted to have a garden with many plants and even trees. Living in the city, it’s impossible as we cannot afford a house. However, I decided to embellish our balcony and make it as much a garden as possible.”

(Heike, 50 yrs.)





“I started my own company and went to my doctor for a health check. The doctor told me I had liver cancer and 3 more months to live. Luckily, he found out in a biopsy that it wasn’t cancer. But I was preOy shocked and didn’t feel like running my own business anymore. I stayed at home for a few months to recover and gather new energy. Now I happily work as employee again. In life, the cards are always reshuffled again.”

(Heidi, 55 yrs.)






“Currently, my private life is upside down. The situa0on keeps my preOy busy but it’s also exci0ng. This period of change pushes me out of my comfort zone. But it’s beOer than boredom. You need to keep moving, get involved in new things. Nothing is worse than boredom and s0cking to rou0nes.”

(Heidi, 55 yrs.)




“I was married with the father of my daughters but we got divorced. We are a good team of parents but not a good couple in love. It has been quite difficult as my husband started a new rela0onship rather quickly. And I didn’t. Looking back, I am proud that we worked it out and how we raised our children. We all have wonderful rela0onships with each other and I am confident to find a new partner who really meets my needs and desires.”

(Carola, , 63 yrs.)





FRAMING “I love going to the theatre and classical concerts. I can’t do this together with my husband. He is a bit lazy in this regard. But he is more into poli0cal topics. I have several female friends with whom I can go the opera. I don’t have a problem with it.”

(Gunhild, 67 yrs.)




FRAMING “I recognize that I feel like an 80 years-‐old when I sit for a long 0me. Because the joints are s0ff. But when I have a swim I feel wonderful. ‘Sports in modera0on’ is my moOo. I don’t run into the Yoga class every Tuesday at 10 because I have to anymore. I do my dog yoga everyday.”

(Bri^a, 55 yrs.)




FRAMING

“When looking into the mirror in the morning I think ‚Oh my god‘. But I have discovered a lot of beauty inside and I am into things I wouldn’t dare to do when I was 50. I am much happier than I was with 50. It feels as if freedom and serenity come with age.”

(Doro, 63 yrs.)




FRAMING

“My husband needs a lot of rest as he is very sick. And a wonderful person. We cannot do a lot of things together anymore. But the few things we can share with each other I enjoy even more.”

(Bri^a, 65 yrs.)



POSITIVE GOALS

“In the past, I has loads of money and no 0me. Now I have a lot of 0me but liOle money. I am aiming for having lots of money AND lots of 0me in the near future (laughing).”

(Petra, 55 yrs.)

RESOURCES



POSITIVE GOALS

“I am keen to learn Italian next year. I already learnt Spanish and French and it would be great to speak Italian too.”

(Margit, 60 yrs.)

NEW HORIZONS



POSITIVE GOALS

“I would love to travel and to discover different places. Since my son is in puberty and I am s0ll working this is not an op0on currently. It’s a bit sad that I can’t go to Kopenhagen, but it’s also a goal for the future (smiling).”

(Heike, 50 yrs.)

NEW HORIZONS



POSITIVE EMOTIONS

“On Saturday, I visited the ‘Faltenrock’ dance party again. Actually I didn’t feel like going but I decided to go anyway. A=er two hours I felt like in heaven, dancing with a younger man without feeling awkward at all. I was really happy about it. Maybe I will see him again next week.”

(Carola, 63 yrs.)

FLIRTING



POSITIVE EMOTIONS

“I never had a pet. It’s a amazing how a dog can change your life. If you told me two years ago I would have a dog I said ‘you’re nuts!’. Somebody is always there for you. Lily looks into my eyes and I am touched. I get back home and a tail is waving. I love observing when she plays together with other dogs. I never imagined that I would enjoy it so much having Lily in my life.”

(Petra, 54 yrs.)

COMPANY



POSITIVE EMOTIONS

“I enjoy the simple things in life. Being together with my parents and having a barbecue. Sicng in the sunshine with a grilled sausage in my hand and having a chat with my mom. That’s all I need to feel happy.”

(Tatjana, 52 yrs.)

ENJOYMENT



POSITIVE EMOTIONS

“I cook and bake with passion. I have discovered it when I didn’t have to cook for my family anymore. For Christmas, I make a lot of cookies and “Stollen” (tradiGonal German Xmas cake). Everybody gets one – even at work. They all ask for my cookies.”

(Heidi, 55 yrs.)

NEW PASSIONS



POSITIVE EMOTIONS

“I will move together with my boyfriend next year. It’s very exci0ng since I haven’t lived together with a partner for many years. We have been together 20 years ago, but didn’t dare to live together in the same city as patchwork family. In the 70ies, this concept didn’t exist. And he is a few years younger than I am. We now are brave enough to make our dream come true.”

(Heidi, 55 yrs.)

NEW OLD LOVE


Dr. Ute Rademacher

COLIBRI Research & Coaching InternaKonal School of Management

www.colibri-‐research.com )  +49 40 46 96 68 82

*  ute@colibri-‐research.com

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