Iskustva i kvalitet života starijih osoba tokom pandemije Kovida-19 i uvedenih restriktivnih mera u Srbiji

Abstract

Ovaj rad je deo šire kvalitativne studije koja se bavi ispitivanjem iskustva ljudi tokom prvog talasa pandemije u Srbiji kada je uvedeno vanredno stanje i efektima ove situacije na kvalitet života i mentalno stanje specifičnih uzrasnih grupa. U radu su prikazani rezultati intervjua vođenih sa osobama starijim od 65 godina, koje su bile posebno pogođene uvedenim restriktivnim merama, zbog čega su mnogi stariji sugrađani osetili značajan pad kvaliteta života, praćen rizikom za razvoj različitih emocionalnih tegoba. U cilju dubljeg razumevanja njihovih specifičnih iskustava tokom pandemije i uvedenih mera, opredelili smo se za kvalitativnu studiju uzimajući u obzir karakteristike prethodnog životnog konteksta, promene načina života tokom pandemije, njihove emocionalne reakcije i strategije prevladavanja, kao i očekivanja od budućnosti s obzirom na novonastalu situaciju. Intervjuisano je 16 osoba, oba pola (4 muškarca), starosti od 65 do 87 godina (M=71.19 God.), tokom aprila i početkom maja 2020. godine. Transkripti polustrukturisanih intervjua su procesuirani u softveru za kvalitativnu analizu Maxqda i analizirani su uz oslanjanje na principe tematske analize. Opšti zaključak istraživanja je da su se starije osobe iz našeg uzorka bez većih teškoća prilagodile i uspele da održe zadovoljavajuće subjektivno blagostanje uprkos pandemiji i restriktivnim merama, a uz pomoć i podršku neposrednog socijalnog okruženja i u kontekstu zadovoljstva opštim kvalitetom dotadašnjeg života. To je rezultiralo dobrim adaptivnim strategijama i ishodima, čak i u situaciji ugroženih potreba i nezadovoljstva specifičnim aspektima života. Ipak, nalazi istraživanja ukazuju na to da se kod starijih osoba reakcije na pandemiju razlikuju od reakcija na uvedene mere - tolerancija starijih na ugoženost ličnih potreba veća je nego što je tolerancija na ugoženost prava i ličnog dostojanstva. Dok se briga za sopstveno zdravlje znatno manje ispoljila, uvođenje vanrednog stanja i posebno restriktivnih mera za sugrađane starije od 65 godina, doživljeni su znatno teže. Mere izolacije su se odrazile na pojačana negativna osećanja i pad kvaliteta života, ali i na ugroženost ličnog dostojanstva.

This paper is part of a broader qualitative study examining the experience of people during the first wave of the pandemic in Serbia when the state of emergency was proclaimed, and the effects of this situation on the quality of life and mental health of specific age groups. The paper presents the results of interviews conducted with people over 65, who were particularly affected by the introduced restrictive measures, due to which many senior citizens felt a significant decline in the quality of life, accompanied by the risk of developing various emotional problems. In order to understand better their specific experiences during the pandemic and the related measures introduced, we conducted a qualitative study taking into account the characteristics of previous life contexts, the changes in daily life and life quality during the pandemic, emotional reactions and coping strategies, as well as their expectations of the future. During April and early May 2020, sixteen people of both sexes (4 male) were interviewed, aged 65 to 87 (M = 71.19 years). The transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were processed in Maxqda qualitative analysis software and analysed by the principle of thematic analysis. The general conclusion is that the elderly from our sample adapted without major difficulties and managed to maintain a satisfactory level of their subjective well-being despite the pandemic and restrictive measures, with the help and support of their immediate social environment and in the context of the former general quality of life. This resulted in good adaptive strategies and outcomes, even in the situation of the restricted need satisfaction. However, the findings of the research indicate that, in the elderly, reactions to the pandemic are different from the reactions to the introduced measures - the tolerance of the elderly to the endangerment of personal needs is greater than the tolerance to the endangerment of personal rights and dignity. While the concern about one's own health was not explicitly expressed, the citizens older than 65 felt more affected by the introduction of the state of emergency and, especially, by the restrictive measures. The introduced measures of isolation resulted in increased negative feelings and a decline in the quality of life, as well as perceiving the threat to one's personal dignity.