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Perceived reasons of unsafety among independently living older adults in Sweden
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6231-8477
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8163-6558
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9429-9012
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9439-9486
2022 (English)In: Nordic Journal of Criminology, ISSN 2578-983X, Vol. 23, no 1, p. 44-60Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Feeling safe is important for quality of life in advanced age. The current study aimed to investigate whether different perceived reasons for unsafety uniquely contribute to the feelings of unsafety in the neighbourhood and at home while ageing. Data from a cross- sectional survey study on older adults living independently in Sweden were analysed (N = 622, age range 64–106 years, 60.6% female). Binary logistic regressions revealed unique associations between fear of crime, unattractive social climate in the neighbour-hood, and inconvenient infrastructure at home with experienced feelings of unsafety, while controlling for socio-demographic fac-tors. When distinguishing between reasons for feeling unsafe in the neighbourhood and at home, different associations with socio- demographic factors emerged. Higher age was positively asso-ciated with health-related unsafety both in the neighbourhood and at home and was not related to fear of crime neither in the neighbourhood nor at home. Female gender was associated with both health-related unsafety and fear of crime in the neighbour-hood and with health-related unsafety at home. Overall, the find-ings highlight the presence of a range of perceived reasons of unsafety relevant for older adults and the importance to consider these subjective unsafety reasons in further research and practice.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022. Vol. 23, no 1, p. 44-60
Keywords [en]
Feelings of unsafety, fear of crime, neighbourhood, ageing, older adults
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-91800DOI: 10.1080/2578983X.2021.1920756Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85105995513OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-91800DiVA, id: diva2:1554632
Funder
EU, Horizon 2020, 754285Available from: 2021-05-17 Created: 2021-05-17 Last updated: 2023-01-26Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Older and Feeling Unsafe? Unravelling the Role of Perceived Unsafety in the Well-being of Older Adults Residing in Senior Apartments
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Older and Feeling Unsafe? Unravelling the Role of Perceived Unsafety in the Well-being of Older Adults Residing in Senior Apartments
2023 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Feeling safe in one’s place of residence is important for the well-being of older adults when ageing in place; in contrast, feeling unsafe is likely to have negative consequences for well-being while ageing. Although substantial knowledge of perceived unsafety has been accumulated within various disciplines, there are certain knowledge gaps related to perceived unsafety in older age. What perceived reasons for feeling unsafe are the most central to older adults? Can emotion regulation strengthen or buffer the negative effects of perceived unsafety on the well-being of older people? What differences exist among older adults regarding why they feel unsafe?

This dissertation aimed to address these questions while investigating perceived unsafety and its associations with well-being in the context of ageing, focusing on senior apartment residents. This dissertation adopted an interdisciplinary approach integrating knowledge of perceived unsafety from psychology, gerontology, and criminology. The findings suggest that perceived unsafety in advanced age is a multifaceted phenomenon. Specifically, perceived unsafety could be explained by different perceived reasons (i.e., fear of crime, unattractive social climate in the neighbourhood, and inconvenient infrastructure at home; Study I). Furthermore, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were associated with fear of crime and strengthened its negative association with life satisfaction (Study II). Moreover, distinct profiles of older adults could be identified based on compromises in their key life domains. Older adults belonging to different profiles differed in their perceived unsafety and well-being (Study III).

Overall, this dissertation findings indicate that feeling unsafe is associated with being less satisfied with life, experiencing more anxiety and depressive feelings, and relying on more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Therefore, safety-promotion efforts are considered an important investment in the quality of life of older adults living in senior apartments.

Abstract [sv]

Att känna sig trygg i sin boendemiljö är en förutsättning för välmående hos äldre som åldras i hemmet. Motsatsen, upplevelsen av otrygghet, kan däremot inverka negativt under åldrandet. Trots att olika vetenskapliga discipliner har bidragit med betydelsefull kunskap om äldres otrygghet finns fortfarande ett antal kunskapsluckor inom forskningsfältet. Vilka centrala orsaker till otrygghet uppger äldre? Kan känsloreglering stärka eller buffra negativa effekter av upplevd otrygghet på äldres välmående? Vilka skillnader finns bland äldre när det gäller orsaker till upplevd otrygghet?

Syftet med denna avhandling var att undersöka upplevd otrygghet och dess samband med välmående i relation till åldrande bland äldre i seniorboenden. Avhandlingen har en tvärvetenskaplig utgångspunkt och integrerar kunskap om upplevd otrygghet från psykologi, gerontologi och kriminologi. Resultaten tyder på att äldres upplevda otrygghet är ett mångfacetterat fenomen. Flera olika förklaringar framträdde till varför äldre upplever otrygghet, närmare bestämt rädsla för brott, oattraktivt socialt klimat i bostadsområdet och bristfällig infrastruktur i hemmet (Studie I). Vidare framkom att maladaptiva kognitiva känsloregleringsstrategier var kopplade till rädsla för brott, och förstärkte sambandet med bristande livstillfredsställelse (Studie II). Vidare kunde ett antal distinkta profiler av äldre identifieras, baserade på sårbarhetsfaktorer inom viktiga livsområden. Profilerna skiljde sig åt gällande upplevd otrygghet och välmående (Studie III).

Sammantaget indikerar denna avhandling att upplevd otrygghet är förknippat med lägre livstillfredsställelse, ökad ångest och depressiva symptom och att i högre utsträckning förlita sig på maladaptiva känsloregleringsstrategier. Trygghetsfrämjande insatser kan således anses vara en viktig satsning för att öka livskvaliteten hos äldre i seniorboenden.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Örebro: Örebro University, 2023. p. 83
Series
Örebro Studies in Psychology, ISSN 1651-1328 ; 46
Keywords
perceived unsafety, fear of crime, well-being, life satisfaction, men-tal health, emotion regulation, vulnerability, older adults, advanced age, upplevd otrygghet, rädsla för brott, välmående, livstillfreds-ställelse, mental hälsa, känsloreglering, sårbarhet, äldre vuxna, åldrande
National Category
Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-102359 (URN)9789175294797 (ISBN)
Public defence
2023-01-27, Örebro universitet, Långhuset, Hörsal L2, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro, 09:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-11-23 Created: 2022-11-23 Last updated: 2023-01-26Bibliographically approved

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Golovchanova, NadezhdaAndershed, HenrikBoersma, KatjaHellfeldt, Karin

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