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2 Chapter 3 Refine
Findings Analysis & Synthesis
Social bias affects feelings of Pockets of Purpose
loneliness/social isolation
One of the major discoveries of this research is that social context Majority of the participants mentioned their experience of loneliness
plays a critical role in affecting older adults’ perceptions about happens anytime, anywhere. To cope with this, participants shared
themselves. The view that older adults are not able in many ways is a that they try to keep themselves busy to avoid this unwanted
form of Ageism. Findings indicate that this societal thinking affects feelings but even amongst those who are socially active, a few
how they think about themselves which can potentially add to their acknowledge that the busy-ness sometimes does not cut it all the
loneliness/social isolation. Some have embraced this and doubted time. Not all social interactions help reduce loneliness, for some it
themselves believing they truly are not able. But amongst those who must be meaningful. Through thematic analysis, the key finding in
are more aware of Ageism, there is a yearning to change this this study is that purpose is not necessarily a bigger than life singular
narrative. answer. In fact, it is GROUNDED in the EVERYDAY and can exists as
Pockets of Purpose - a string of VARIED meaningful interactions in a
day or week with people in the neighbourhood done with mindful
DEFINE
presence to one person at a time or with one group at a time
Yin in a Yang Society
Findings indicate that the strength of Older Adults is about sharing
their sense of BEINGNESS, they have soft SUPPORTIVE power “What drives me to wake up and get out in
brought about by their WISDOM and strong natural desire to GIVE the morning is to send my neighbor’s kid at
BACK and NOURISH others. In eastern culture the idea of soft the bus stop …. " (Participant 3, IDI)
supportive power is often referred to as Yin. It is a symbol of earth,
softness, and passivity while Yang is heaven, aggressiveness, and
action (Wang, 2013). The unearthed qualities of older adults “[On purpose] ---- you could set yourself up
unearthed can be analogous to this idea. Their Yin-ness is about to be unhappy by trying to achieve
being who they are and sharing themselves with others which in turn something big. No, I think just live life
gives them fulfilment and purpose – this balances society’s well-
being which can help build RESILIENCE in a time of change. now.” (Participant 9, FGD)
