Abstract

FERREIRA, Camomila Lira; SANTOS, Lúcia Maria Oliveira  and  MAIA, Eulália Maria Chaves. Resilience among the elderly cared for by the Primary Healthcare Network in a city of Northeast Brazil. Rev. esc. enferm. USP [online]. 2012, vol.46, n.2, pp. 328-334. ISSN 0080-6234.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342012000200009.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the capacity of resilience, self-esteem and social support among the elderly by means of an exploratory study. The convenience sample consisted of elderly users of the public healthcare network in Natal-RN, Brazil, who answered the questionnaire and the Resilience, Self-Esteem and Social Support Scales. Participants were 65 seniors, with a mean age of 71 years, 81% female, with poor socio-economic conditions. It was found that the elderly participants have resilient characteristics, positive self-esteem and social support perceived as satisfactory, despite their losses and decline due to aging. Furthermore, moderate and positive correlations were observed between resilience and self-esteem, because as one increased, the other also increased. Therefore, it appears that resilience, considered a resource that assists development, favors staying well through this critical period, as well as the protective factors, which are important health indicators.

Keywords : Aged; Aging; Resilience; psychological; Health of the elderly.