OLIVEIRA, A. L.; KAMIMURA, Q. P.; NOGUEIRA, P. S. Resiliência e envelhecimento ativo: estudo qualitativo sobre os fatores de risco e proteção na terceira idade [Resilience and active aging: qualitative study on risk factors and protection in the elderly]. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, 4(1), 2621–2641, 2021.
Abstract: In the aging process, physical, psychological and social changes are challenges for the elderly and for maintaining their quality of life. Such changes can be seen as risk factors in aging, which need to be faced and overcome to maintain well-being. Resilience can be understood as the set of social and intrapsychic processes that make it possible to face adversity, generating the possibility of overcoming it. For this, risk factors must be moderated by protective factors, which provide a positive attitude towards the adversity of life. The objective of the research was to characterize the process of resilience of the elderly and to understand the influence of resilience for active aging. An exploratory, field, qualitative research was carried out with a sample of 5 elderly women and 5 elderly men. Three instruments were used: Wagnild and Young’s Resilience Scale (1993), The Thematic Drawing-and-Story Procedure, and Semi-structured Interview. Results show an average of 140.3 on the Resilience Scale, which indicates a good level of overall resilience. The main challenges reported were physical limitation, pain and loneliness. The main protective factors pointed out were the significant affective bonds with children and grandchildren, having faith and practicing physical exercises. It could be verified that the elderly studied are able to face life’s adversities and have the capacity to adapt and maintain their well-being. It is believed that the knowledge built is of great relevance as it integrates central aspects for understanding and acting with the elderly population, in an interdisciplinary perspective.