CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOPHYSICAL HEALTH, GENERATIVITY AND INTEGRITY LEVEL IN ELDERLY PEOPLE CONSIDERING PREVIOUS AND CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS

Abstract

Objectives.The aim of the research presented in this paper is to determine characteristics of psychophysical health, the degree of generativity and integrity with respect to the past and current financial condition of the old. Material and methods. The research sample consisted of elderly persons from the vicinity of Novi Pazar (N=101), whose average age was 71.7 years old. The instruments used for data collection were as follows: The questionnaire for examining sociodemographic characteristics (designed for research purposes), The RAND-36 Health Survey, Loyola Adapted Generativity Scale and Integrity scale. The data analysis used the descriptive statistical methods, t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results. The results show that there are statistically significant differences in only one dimension of mental health - emotional well-being, as well as in the degree of generativity and integrity concerning the earlier family material situation in elderly persons. Concerning the current financial status, statistically significant differences were observed in even four dimensions of psychophysical health: emotional well-being, social functioning, physical functioning and general health. Significant differences have also been shown in the dimension of integrity between the groups with the poor and the good economic background. Conclusions. Elderly in Novi Pazar, mostly assess their earlier and current material status as medium or good. They also link better health state to a better financial situation and assess mental health as better than physical. The respondents in this study report a relatively high degree of generativity, which speaks of an active relationship towards the environment and achieving integrity.

Keywords

• elderly
• health
• generativity
• integrity
• material status