Dul, A.J. (2020) “I am trying to avoid busy supermarkets. So, this morning, I was at the supermarket at 8 AM already.” A qualitative research about the adaptive behaviour and quality of life of independently living older adults in the Northern Netherlands during the COVID-19 outbreak. Master thesis.
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Abstract
Older adults (70+) are at higher risk of developing severe illness and mortality due to the latest coronavirus: COVID-19. In March 2020, the Dutch national government introduced Intelligent Lock Down (ILD) measures which emphasize social distancing and if possible, social isolation for older adults. These measures impact older adults’ everyday life tremendously. Earlier research has shown that older adults can cope with changes in life by employing adaptation strategies. Adaptive behaviour in older age gives solutions to maintain, enhance, or improve quality of life. To understand how older adults deal with the pandemic, the research question of this study is: how do independently living older adults in the Northern Netherlands incorporate adaptation strategies in their everyday life to improve their quality of life during the Dutch ILD measures? A literature review has been conducted which is based on the adaptation model of Baltes & Baltes (1990), theories about everyday activities, and quality of life domains. To gain insight in individual experiences, a qualitative research approach has been applied. In total, seventeen older adults who live independently in the Northern Netherlands participated in in-depth interviews in April and May 2020. The ages of the participants range between 60 and 75 years. The study findings show that older adults are flexible, creative and have the ability to adapt in the COVID-19 situation because they employ a variety of adaptation strategies to battle social, environmental, and health challenges and maintain their quality of life. The adaptive behaviours of selection, optimization and compensation gave older adults the means to stay in control during the uncertain COVID-19 situation, to follow their own routines and to perform new or adapted meaningful activities. Older adults living alone and older adults with a lack of social and financial resources expressed a more negative quality of life. Therefore, older adults’ individual characteristics and the availability of financial resources, social networks and alternatives provided by (health care) institutions are important to meet individual needs during the outbreak.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Population Studies |
| Supervisor: | Meijering, L.B. |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2020 12:29 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2020 12:29 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3374 |
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