THE RESULTS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH OF SOCIETAL ACTIVITIES OF ELDERLY PEOPL

Abstract

The article analyzes the basic approaches to the defenition of social activity of the elderly, provides definition of societal activities of elderly people. Examples of societal activities of elderly people are presented and the feasibility of such activity for this social group is grounded. The sample and research tools are described. The main results of the empirical research of factors of societal activities of elderly people are highlighted. To reveal the psychological content of the positions of the elderly in relation to societal activities. It has been established that elderly people can take fundamentally different positions on societal activities – the consumer of social influences and services (societal inactive); and the active subject of social action (societal active). The description of the psychological characteristics of these two groups of the elderly is given. Socio-psychological factors of increase and decrease societal activities of elderly people are determined. It is proved that participating in societal activities is influenced by such psychosocial characteristics: structure of value orientations of the individual, type of orientation, presence of social interests, degree of satisfaction needs, the sense of social support, the level of self-esteem. With the help of regression analysis, the most significant determinants of the activity of the elderly have been identifiedAccording to the results of factor analysis, 8 factors (4 for societal active elderly people and 4 for societal inactive elderly people) have been identified. This factors are reveal the content of the factors of social activity of active and inactive elderly people and reflect the types of elderly people.The ways of further using the obtained results are outlined. Based on the received data, a program of social and psychological support for the societal activities of the elderly has been developed.