Abstract
Based on a qualitative research restricted to aging processes in Chile, the paper presents the experience and significance of dependence in elderly men and how it is related with the social construction of old age. It is important to know how the identity of aging is configured when facing such a significant biographical and social landmark as the loss of functionality in later life. When analyzing the social construction of dependence in elderly men, three aspects of that configuration stand out: first, the way in which they understand and signify their situations of illness, physical problems, disability, and evaluation of their health; second, the characteristics of the social significant contexts in which disability or physical problems become evident; and third, the actions, roles or activities that they perform in those contexts, which are valued differently according to the experiences of dependence or autonomy. Dependence in elderly men does not appear as a static condition, but rather as a passage from physical-biological conditioners to the social context in which their everyday actions take place. So the agency of the dependence, its construction, experience and significance is the understanding of the social phenomenon of old age.
Highlights
At present, Chile is one of the four most aged countries in Latin America, with a population of 12.1% aged 60 years or more [1]
In the first part of the results the way in which elderly men understand and signify their disease situation, physical problems, disability and evaluation of their health is analyzed with the purpose of knowing the aspects that are deemed most important when thinking of performance in their social context
The results presented here indicate that old age and aging are lived as a process in which transformations, in a context of continuity and changes, are a constant
Summary
Chile is one of the four most aged countries in Latin America, with a population of 12.1% aged 60 years or more [1]. Due to the progressive increase of life expectancy and the new passages within this last stage of the course of life, older people are becoming a differentiated age group, with their own cultural characteristics, How to cite this paper: Osorio-Parraguez, P. and Seguel, A.G. (2014) Social Construction of Dependence in Elderly Men in Chile. G. Seguel interests and social demands [2]. Seguel interests and social demands [2] In view of these demographic circumstances, it can be foreseen that the greater longevity in the middle range will imply that dependence in old age will be one of its structural characteristics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
