Contribuições da convivência em grupos para a qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa.

Abstract

To analyze the contributions of living in groups to the quality of life in old age, based on the perception of the elderly. Method: exploratory study with a qualitative approach developed with 20 elderly people participating in social groups in two cities in the Curimataú region of Paraíba. Data were obtained through a semi-structured interview script and the results were processed in the IRAMUTEQ software. The textual corpus was structured based on the Descending Hierarchical Classification (DHC), being analyzed by the technique of Content Analysis. Results: The textual corpus was composed of 20 texts and 171 textual segments, with a use of 83.63%, corresponding to 143 text segments. The DHC, presented in the dendrogram, generated two segments constituted by a subcorpus composed of two divisions and four classes: “The contributions of the coexistence group to physical and mental health” (class 1) and “Participation in the coexistence group: in search for a better quality of life” (classes 4, 5 and 6); and the second subcorpus formed by the following classes: “The encounter with the diversity of activities in the coexistence group” (class 3) and “The gaps of the COVID-19 pandemic left in the coexistence group” (class 2). Final considerations: The perception of the oldest-old about the contributions of social groups to the quality of life reinforces the benefits of a biological (physical health), psychological (mental health), social and emotional nature, with the heterogeneity of activities directly related to the improvement quality of life for the elderly and a sense of well-being.