The experience of aging as depicted in the outstanding American novels of 1968-1986 /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1989.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | The fastest growing population segment in the United States is the 85-plus cohort. In 1985, almost 12 percent of the American population was 65 or older. In American youth-oriented society, the elderly have been negatively stereotyped as non-productive, dependent, unhealthy, isolated, lonely, and senile. The elderly themselves believe these stereotypes. Consequently, aging has been described as a negative experience. One way of assessing the current status of the attitudes toward the elderly and aging is a study of literary works. In this qualitative study, eighteen novels were examined to answer the following questions: 1) How are older adults portrayed in contemporary American novels? 2) What are the themes and patterns in aging as identified in contemporary American novels? 3) Do contemporary American novels reflect the actual experience of older Americans? The novels were selected from Magi 11 Literary Annuals and had at least one older adult character. Content analysis was used to Identify the themes and patterns in aging in the novels. Each pattern was compared with other research studies. Conclusions were that the characters, in general, were not stereotyped. Patterns in the aging experience were divided into physical, social, and psychological domains for convenience. Patterns Identified in the physical domain were: physical appearance, physical health, nutritional status, and sleep disturbances. The social domain included: roles, marital status, family relationships, thoughts about other elderly, housing, activities of the usual day, pets, finances transportation, and observations on a changing world. The psychological domain included personalities, self-esteem and self-concept, unresolved guilty, fears, death, grief and bereavement, loneliness, sexuality, alcohol abuse, reminiscence, the extended self, religiosity, and the meaning of life... |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Adult and Extension Education." |
| Physical Description: | 2 volumes ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |