Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Gerontologist. 2016 Aug;56(4):753-61. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnv031. Epub 2015 Apr 9.
Existing research suggests that will-to-live (WTL) is an indicator of subjective well-being (SWB), and that similar personal variables including physical and mental health, quality-of-life, and sociodemographic characteristics influence elderly people's WTL. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore additional factors which influence older persons' WTL.
Twenty-five elderly Israelis across the country were interviewed about what weakens and strengthens their WTL. The grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis.
In addition to the previously reported aspects influencing WTL, analysis resulted in two new categories: nationalism and historical traumatic events. Negative influences of nationalism-related emotions on participants' WTL included themes of disappointment with the state, with children leaving the state, and with existential insecurity. Among the positive influences on WTL, participants mentioned pride in the state and in its development, personal security, and hope for a peaceful future. Under the category of historical traumatic events, participants reported posttraumatic stress and war anxieties, as well as satisfaction and revenge in continued existence, and appreciation for life in Israel compared with life before immigrating to Israel.
Our findings indicate that nationalism and feelings of personal involvement in national developments play an important role in the lives of elderly Israelis to the degree that they contribute to their SWB and motivation to continue living. Practitioners and family members can intentionally arouse and strengthen positive nationalistic feelings in the elderly as a way to maintain and promote SWB and WTL.
现有研究表明，生存意愿（WTL）是主观幸福感（SWB）的一个指标，类似的个人变量，包括身心健康、生活质量和社会人口特征，影响老年人的 WTL。本定性研究的目的是探讨影响老年人 WTL 的其他因素。
在全国范围内，对 25 名以色列老年人进行了访谈，了解哪些因素削弱和增强了他们的生存意愿。扎根理论方法指导了数据收集和分析。
除了先前报告的影响 WTL 的方面外，分析还产生了两个新类别：民族主义和历史创伤事件。民族主义相关情绪对参与者 WTL 的负面影响包括对国家、子女离开国家和生存不安全的失望，以及对国家和国家发展的自豪感、个人安全和对和平未来的希望。在历史创伤事件类别下，参与者报告了创伤后应激和战争焦虑，以及继续存在的满足感和报复感，以及与移民到以色列之前相比对以色列生活的欣赏。
我们的研究结果表明，民族主义和个人对国家发展的参与感在以色列老年人的生活中起着重要作用，它们有助于他们的 SWB 和继续生存的动机。从业者和家庭成员可以有意唤起和增强老年人的积极民族主义情绪，以维持和促进 SWB 和 WTL。
