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Relationships between objective and perceived housing in very old age

Nygren, Carita LU ; Oswald, Frank ; Iwarsson, Susanne LU ; Malmgren Fänge, Agneta LU orcid ; Sixsmith, Judith ; Schilling, Oliver ; Sixsnuth, Andrew ; Szeman, Zsuzsa ; Tomsone, Signe and Wahl, Hans-Werner (2007) In The Gerontologist 47(1). p.85-95
Abstract
Purpose: Our purpose in this study was to explore relationships between aspects of objective and perceived housing in five European samples of very old adults, as well as to investigate whether cross-national comparable patterns exist. Design and Methods: We utilized data from the first wave of the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study. The five national samples totalled 1,918 individuals aged 75 to 89 years. Objective assessments of the home environment covered the number of environmental barriers as well as the magnitude of accessibility problems (an aspect of person-environment fit). To assess perceptions of housing, we used instruments on usability, meaning of home, and housing satisfaction. We also assessed housing-related control. Results:... (More)
Purpose: Our purpose in this study was to explore relationships between aspects of objective and perceived housing in five European samples of very old adults, as well as to investigate whether cross-national comparable patterns exist. Design and Methods: We utilized data from the first wave of the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study. The five national samples totalled 1,918 individuals aged 75 to 89 years. Objective assessments of the home environment covered the number of environmental barriers as well as the magnitude of accessibility problems (an aspect of person-environment fit). To assess perceptions of housing, we used instruments on usability, meaning of home, and housing satisfaction. We also assessed housing-related control. Results: Overall, the results revealed that the magnitude of accessibility problems, rather than the number of physical environmental barriers, was associated with perceptions of activity-oriented aspects of housing. That is, very old people living in more accessible housing perceived their homes as more useful and meaningful in relation to their routines and everyday activities, and they were less dependent on external control in relation to their housing. The patterns of such relationships were similar in the five national samples. Implications: Objective and perceived aspects of housing have to be considered in order to understand the dynamics of aging in place, and the results can be used in practice contexts that target housing for senior citizens. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
housing-related, usability, person-environment fit, accessibility, control beliefs
in
The Gerontologist
volume
47
issue
1
pages
85 - 95
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000247215800011
  • scopus:34250842823
ISSN
1758-5341
project
Home, Health and Disability along the Process of Ageing
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Department of Health Sciences (013220000), Active and Healthy Ageing Research Group (013220001), Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000)
id
71d4ebca-d339-4ca6-8642-e5095313aaa1 (old id 648883)
alternative location
http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/1/85
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:13:30
date last changed
2022-01-27 00:38:38
@article{71d4ebca-d339-4ca6-8642-e5095313aaa1,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: Our purpose in this study was to explore relationships between aspects of objective and perceived housing in five European samples of very old adults, as well as to investigate whether cross-national comparable patterns exist. Design and Methods: We utilized data from the first wave of the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study. The five national samples totalled 1,918 individuals aged 75 to 89 years. Objective assessments of the home environment covered the number of environmental barriers as well as the magnitude of accessibility problems (an aspect of person-environment fit). To assess perceptions of housing, we used instruments on usability, meaning of home, and housing satisfaction. We also assessed housing-related control. Results: Overall, the results revealed that the magnitude of accessibility problems, rather than the number of physical environmental barriers, was associated with perceptions of activity-oriented aspects of housing. That is, very old people living in more accessible housing perceived their homes as more useful and meaningful in relation to their routines and everyday activities, and they were less dependent on external control in relation to their housing. The patterns of such relationships were similar in the five national samples. Implications: Objective and perceived aspects of housing have to be considered in order to understand the dynamics of aging in place, and the results can be used in practice contexts that target housing for senior citizens.}},
  author       = {{Nygren, Carita and Oswald, Frank and Iwarsson, Susanne and Malmgren Fänge, Agneta and Sixsmith, Judith and Schilling, Oliver and Sixsnuth, Andrew and Szeman, Zsuzsa and Tomsone, Signe and Wahl, Hans-Werner}},
  issn         = {{1758-5341}},
  keywords     = {{housing-related; usability; person-environment fit; accessibility; control beliefs}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{85--95}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{The Gerontologist}},
  title        = {{Relationships between objective and perceived housing in very old age}},
  url          = {{http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/1/85}},
  volume       = {{47}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}