Social Connections and Future Horizons: Socioemotional Selectivity Among Midlife and Older Adults in Aotearoa/New Zealand During COVID-19

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dc.contributor.authorNewton NJ
dc.contributor.authorBreheny M
dc.contributor.authorStephens C
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-03T20:55:19Z
dc.date.available2024-07-03T20:55:19Z
dc.date.issued2024-01-20
dc.description.abstractThe current study uses socioemotional selectivity theory (SST; Carstensen in Psychology and Aging. 7(3):331–338,1992,10.1037/0882-7974.7.3.331) as a framework to examine the experiences of older adults during COVID-19 in Aotearoa/New Zealand. SST posits that when time horizons are perceived as limited—such as with increasing age, or during times of medical uncertainty—people selectively focus on spending time with emotionally close others and in personally fulfilling activities. This may be the case particularly when uncertainty is experienced by older people. Aotearoa/New Zealand instigated an elimination strategy early in the pandemic (prior to widespread vaccine availability), employing a series of lockdowns that further challenged older adults’ perceptions of future horizons, their ability to maintain social connections with loved ones, and engagement in pleasurable activities. This study used thematic analysis to analyze existing qualitative COVID-19-related data drawn from the experiences of 510 older adults who participated in the 2021 Health, Work, and Retirement study (HWR). Participants ranged in age from 56 to 87 (Mage = 69.73); 15.9% identified as Māori, and 76.2% identified as female. Two broad themes were revealed: Social Connection and Anticipating the Future. Although most participants expressed comparatively more positive than negative experiences, some also expressed frustration and anxiety about health directive-related divisions in relationships, and the inability to share in important life events (such as weddings, births, and funerals). Findings highlight the complex impact of COVID-19 on older adults’ perceptions of time horizons, and the opportunities presented by the pandemic for reassessment of social relationships and activities.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.edition2024
dc.format.pagination1-13
dc.identifier.citationNewton NJ, Breheny M, Stephens C. (2024). Social Connections and Future Horizons: Socioemotional Selectivity Among Midlife and Older Adults in Aotearoa/New Zealand During COVID-19. Journal of Adult Development. (pp. 1-13).
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10804-023-09470-7
dc.identifier.eissn1573-3440
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn1068-0667
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70074
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherSpringer Nature
dc.publisher.urihttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10804-023-09470-7
dc.relation.isPartOfJournal of Adult Development
dc.rights(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectOlder adults
dc.subjectAotearoa/New Zealand
dc.subjectSocial connection
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectThematic analysis
dc.titleSocial Connections and Future Horizons: Socioemotional Selectivity Among Midlife and Older Adults in Aotearoa/New Zealand During COVID-19
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id486348
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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