Papers by Feliciano Villar
Ageing and Society, 2015
It has been argued that older people's civic engagement has benefits for both individuals... more It has been argued that older people's civic engagement has benefits for both individuals themselves and the community more broadly. Removing barriers to participation is, therefore, essential. However, the multi-dimensional nature of civic participation, as well as the different issues raised by recruitment and retention, complicate this. This study explores the barriers to retention of Spanish older people in political organisations, as one important type of participation that has received little attention in the literature to date. A total of 192 people aged 65 and over and actively engaged in three kinds of political organisation participated in this study. Participants answered an open-ended question regarding perceived barriers to continued involvement. Results show a range of reasons for potential future disengagement from political organisations. These barriers fit into three overarching categories related to changes in means, motives or the opportunity context for participation. Means-related barriers were by far the most frequently identified type of barrier. Both the type of organisation and some socio-demographic and participatory characteristics have an impact on the reasons respondents indicated they may potentially stop participating in future. Results suggest the necessity of a more nuanced and multi-faceted approach to understanding barriers to participation. Particularly, the development of retention strategies by political organisations should take into account the specific characteristics of the individuals and organisations they are targeting.
Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, 2005
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 2010
The majority of research on grandparenting has been carried out either from the perspective of th... more The majority of research on grandparenting has been carried out either from the perspective of the grandparent or from the perspective of the grandchild. The present study compares the perceptions of grandparents and their adolescent grandchildren on four relationship variables: frequency of contact, shared leisure activities, closeness, and grandparenting styles. A sample of 80 couples answered a series of parallel questionnaires. The results suggest that grandparents perceive a greater level of change in the relationships as grandchildren age. The discrepancies between members of the dyad seem not to follow the intergenerational stake hypothesis, which predicts that older generations will have a more optimistic perception of the relationship. Our results also highlight the importance of comparing perspectives as a key approach in order to achieve a deeper understanding of intergenerational relationships inside the family.
Anuario de Psicología
The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a new instrument to assess the regulatio... more The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a new instrument to assess the regulation of anger and sadness in interpersonal situations, covering a wide range of emotion regulation strategies. Two studies were carried out, both of them using purposively selected samples. In Study 1 we created a set of items based on previous studies of emotion regulation, applied a preliminary version of this scale to a pilot sample of undergraduate students (n = 400), and then selected, using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the best 28 items to include in a brief version of the instrument, the Scale of Emotion Regulation in Interpersonal Situations (SERIS). In Study 2 we tested the resulting scale in a new sample of undergraduate students (n = 259) by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 validated the factor structure identified in the EFA. Results showed that the scale has adequate internal consistency and psychometric properties. The new scale also identifies the strategies that are most frequently used in the anger and sadness scenarios, showing differential patterns which are consistent with previous literature on emotion regulation. We discuss the limitations of the study and acknowledge that future studies addressing the scale's convergent and discriminant validity are now required. * Acknowledgments: This research was supported by the National University of Mar del Plata through the Perfeccionamiento grant for the project Diferencias según grupo de edad de las características de la percepción temporal futura, las metas vitales y las estrategias de regulación de la ira y la tristeza en escenarios intrafamiliares. We would also like to thank all participants for their collaboration.
Educational Gerontology, 2014
This study explores the motivations and commitment to volunteering in a sample of Argentinian adu... more This study explores the motivations and commitment to volunteering in a sample of Argentinian adults, and analyzes the role of generativity. The sample consisted of 200 volunteers who were purposively selected from five volunteer organizations in the city of Córdoba (Argentina). Participants were assigned to three age groups: young volunteers (18-39 years old), middle-aged volunteers (40-59 years old), and older volunteers (60 or plus years old). The motivations of "values" and "understanding" obtained the highest scores. No relevant differences were found between age groups in the motivations and commitment to volunteering. Generative concern showed more predictive value for motivations and commitment to volunteering than any of the socio-demographic variables considered in the study. The results are discussed at the light of considering volunteering as an expression of generativity in different stages of the life cycle.
Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 2014
Intergenerational relationships are increasingly recognized as an important field of practice and... more Intergenerational relationships are increasingly recognized as an important field of practice and research. However, it has been argued that appropriate concepts and theories are still required to guide and consolidate the discipline. Although a number of concepts borrowed from the social sciences have been used with some success thus far, few attempts have been made to conceptualize intergenerational relationships from a psychological and developmental perspective. This article explores the usefulness of the Eriksonian concept of generativity as a framework for understanding intergenerational relationships. We describe the contribution of generativity to the intergenerational field and we explore the prospects, limitations, and potential of this contribution.
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The Gerontologist, 2013
The purpose of this article is to shed light on the attitudes of older people living in residenti... more The purpose of this article is to shed light on the attitudes of older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) toward non-heterosexual sexual orientation. Design and methods: Forty-seven residents living in 5 RACFs located in Catalonia (Spain) were interviewed in relation to the way they would think and react if another resident told them he/she felt sexually attracted to people of the same gender and that he/ she had maintained sexual relationships with another man/woman in the home, and whether they would have any problem in sharing common spaces or a room with this resident. Results: Most residents expressed some kind of negative reaction ranging from staying away from the resident in question to extreme rejection, although positive and neutral reactions also emerged. Participants were far more reluctant to share a room with that resident than to share common spaces. Implications: The prevalence of homophobic attitudes among older people living in RACFs seems to be high. This may be a barrier for LGB residents, making the expression of their sexual identity more difficult and leading to discriminatory practices.
This study aimed to investigate and compare the reactions of staff and residents of residential a... more This study aimed to investigate and compare the reactions of staff and residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) toward male-female sexual intercourse taking place in a private space within the facility. A total of 53 professionals and 47 residents from five RACFs located in Catalonia, Spain, were asked to reflect upon what they would think and do if they entered the bedroom of a resident and found him or her having sex with another resident of the opposite gender. The results suggest that male-female partnered sexual activity would generally be considered acceptable and would be respected, although some respondents called into question the appropriateness of such behavior and stated that they would react in a restrictive way. Overall, professionals appeared to be more accepting and permissive than were residents. Although our findings are broadly optimistic, they also suggest that male-female sexual intercourse may be considered an unwelcome sexual practice by some residents and professionals even if it occurs in a private space within the RACF. The fact that both staff and residents may also react in a negative way to the event could constitute a barrier to sexual expression among institutionalized older people.
Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 2014
This article examines the reasons why older Spanish people participate in non-degree educational ... more This article examines the reasons why older Spanish people participate in non-degree educational programs, and the barriers they may face when they wish to do so. Data were drawn from the 2007 Survey on Adults' Involvement in Learning Activities (Encuesta sobre la Participación de la Población Adulta en Actividades de Aprendizaje: EADA) and correspond to a nationally representative sample of Spanish people aged between 60 and 74 years old (n = 4.559). Overall, only 8.7% of the sample participated in a non-degree educational program. Predictors of participation were being a woman, younger age, having a higher educational level, and being employed. The most frequent reason given for participation was of an intrinsic nature (e.g., interest in the topic), although instrumental motives (e.g., utility of the content for daily life) were more common than suggested by previous research. As for barriers to participation, the vast majority of older people (95.6% of those who did not participate) did not even express a desire to participate. The most frequent barriers were internal (e.g., age/health restrictions). This kind of barrier was ascribed a greater importance by older and less educated groups, as well as by those who participate less in cultural activities. Policies to promote older people's participation in non-formal educational activities are discussed in light of the data.
Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 2014
The goals of this study were to determine the learning impact of an assignment that consisted of ... more The goals of this study were to determine the learning impact of an assignment that consisted of interviewing and analyzing older people's life stories, and to explore how the assignment was evaluated by students. Participants in the study were 122 first-year social education students enrolled in an adult development and aging course. They evaluated the assignment using an eight-adjective questionnaire and were asked about the benefits of the task. Their answers to the questionnaire were then reviewed using content analysis. The results indicated that marks on the life story assignment predicted marks on an exam about basic course concepts. Students considered that the assignment was interesting, useful, and integrated into the course, although most of them also thought that it was very time-consuming. They identified benefits related to the explicit goals of the course (improvement in the learning of developmental concepts, the acquisition of research-related skills, and the deactivation of aging stereotypes) and personal, growth-related benefits. The authors discuss the difficulties posed by the assignment and its usefulness as a complement to more traditional, lecture-based teaching methods in adult development and aging courses.
Journal of Women & Aging, 2012
Ageing and Society, 2012
This paper examines the contributions that generativity in older age may make to the concept of s... more This paper examines the contributions that generativity in older age may make to the concept of successful ageing. To this end, two perspectives on successful ageing are described: successful ageing as a set of clinical criteria, and successful ageing as the application of adaptive processes aimed at achieving efficient functioning. After showing the limitations of the first perspective, particularly from a developmental point of view, the paper argues that the adaptive version of successful ageing helps to put ageing into a developmental frame, but needs to be complemented by identifying specific content and goals that guide these adaptive processes and establish new feasible gains for older people. Generativity in older age could play that role and provides a conceptual framework that enriches the concept of successful ageing, both by emphasising the social context in which people age and by highlighting a personal growth component.
información del artículo Historia del artículo: Recibido el 12 de febrero de 2014 Aceptado el 25 ... more información del artículo Historia del artículo: Recibido el 12 de febrero de 2014 Aceptado el 25 de junio de 2014 On-line el 7 de agosto de 2014
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2014
To explore and compare the views of both staff and residents about barriers to sexual expression ... more To explore and compare the views of both staff and residents about barriers to sexual expression in residential aged care facilities. Although remaining sexually active in older age helps to preserve and promote well-being, the percentage of sexually active persons living in residential aged care facilities is low. Previous research has identified several barriers to sexual expression in such settings. Most of this research has focused on staff perceptions, neglecting the residents' perspective. A qualitative descriptive study. Fifty-three staff members and 47 older people living in five residential aged care facilities were interviewed. They were asked about barriers to sexual expression in residential settings. Data were analysed using content analysis, aimed at identifying common ideas in the responses. Data were collected over 7 months in 2012. About 40% of the residents subsample did not identify any barrier to sexual expression, although all other participants identified at least one. The most oft-cited barriers were lack of privacy, residents' attitudes and lack of communication about sexuality. A substantial number of residents were unable to identify or mention barriers to sexual expression. Generational factors and group pressure could affect residents' attitudes towards sexuality.
International Psychogeriatrics, 2014
This study explores whether staff perceptions and reactions to sexual situations involving one or... more This study explores whether staff perceptions and reactions to sexual situations involving one or two persons with dementia (PWD) reflect an extreme cautionary stance (an overprotective and paternalist style) or a person-centered model of care (focusing on understanding the residents' perspective and their rights). Fifty-three staff members currently working in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) were purposively selected to participate in the study. Two vignettes describing sexual situations involving PWD were presented to participants. They were asked about their interpretation of the situation and how they would react. Data were analyzed using content analysis, aimed at identifying common themes in the responses. When the sexual relationship involved a PWD and a cognitively intact resident, participants tended to define the situation as real (54.7%) or possible (35.8%) abuse, whereas when both parties had dementia it was more frequently conceptualized as a possibly abusive (39.6%) or non-abusive (37.7%) situation. The most frequent reaction to both situations was seeking the advice of other professionals. The interpretation of the first situation is compatible with an extreme cautionary stance, whereas the second scenario is less clearly perceived as an example of abuse.
Revista Espanola de Geriatria y Gerontologia, 2013
w w w . e l s e v i e r . e s / r e g g ORIGINAL/Sección ciencias sociales y del comportamiento L... more w w w . e l s e v i e r . e s / r e g g ORIGINAL/Sección ciencias sociales y del comportamiento La participación de personas con demencia en las reuniones del plan de atención individualizada: impacto en el bienestar y la calidad del cuidado información del artículo Historia del artículo: Recibido el 22 de noviembre de 2012 Aceptado el 4 de marzo de 2013 On-line el 30 de mayo de 2013 Palabras clave: Demencia Atención centrada en la persona Residencia Calidad de vida Dementia Care Mapping
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Papers by Feliciano Villar