Successful aging in the American South:

Racial/ethnic differences in Perception

Meredith Troutman-Jordan PhD, PMHCNS-BC

Mary A. Nies PhD, FAAN, FAHB

Boyd Davis PhD

University of North Carolina Charlotte

Objectives1. Identify themes in older adults’ descriptions of successful aging.

2. Describe activities and ways of thinking/adapting that may encourage successful aging.

3. Identify similarities and subtle nuances that differentiate successful aging in Southern Black and White older adults.

Background • Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the

U.S.

population.• Older adults from all minority racial/ethnic groups are

expected

to experience more rapid population growth than Whites.

• Internationally, researchers have examined the meaning of

successful aging to older adults in several countries.• Successful aging is clearly a personal experience that

differs

for different groups of older adults.

Southern Older Adults

• About a third of all older adults in the U.S. live in the

southern states (Cotter & O’Quin, 2007)

• The population aged 65 and older in NC increased by 20%

between 2000 and 2010 (NC Division of Aging and Adult

Services, 2011). • By 2030, the state’s older

adult population will have grown

55% from 2000 (NC Division of Aging and Adult Services,

2011). • People aged 65 and older in

NC have a lower life expectancy,

higher poverty rate, and lower average education and income

than many of their national counterparts (NC Department of

Health and Human Services Division of Aging, 2003).

Methods • Specific aims:o Describe what older Southern adults in NC and SC

consider to be successful aging; o Conduct an initial analysis to identify the differences and

commonalities

Participants • Data Collectiono Demographic information

• The researcher reviewed ground rules and each session

was audiotaped. • Focus groups

Data Analysis

• Demographic and quantitative data were analyzed using

• SPSS (14.0).• A thematic content analysis was done. o Open codingo Focused coding o Validity check with Linguist o Member checking

Results Sample n %

Black n %

White n %

Health rating Fair Good Excellent Missing

10 37 4 1

19.2 71.2 7.7 2.0

6 21 2 0

20.7 72.4 6.9 0.0

4 16 2 1

17.4 69.6 8.7 4.3

Exercise Regularly Yes No Missing

32 18 2

61.5 34.6 3.8

17 12 0

58.6 41.4 0.0

15 6 2

65.2 26.1 8.7

Relationship Status Single Widowed Divorced Married Missing

8 28 2 13 1

15.4 53.8 3.8 25.0 1.9

6 20 1 2 0

20.7 69.0 3.4 6.9 0.0

2 8 1 11 1

8.7 34.8 4.3 47.8 4.3

Regular Fruit and Vegetable Intake Yes No

50 2

96.8 3.8

28 1

96.6 3.4

22 1

95.7 4.3

Health Insurance besides Medicare Yes No Missing

35 `2 5

67.3 23.1 9.6

16 11 2

55.2 37.9 6.9

19 1 3

82.6 4.3 13.0

Income <$20,000/year $20-39,000/year $40-59,000/year $60-79,000/year >$80,000/year Missing

17 25 6 0 1 3

32.7 48.1 11.5 0.0 1.9 5.8

7 16 2 0 1 2

24.1 58.6 6.9 0.0 3.4 6.9

10 8 4 0 0 1

43.5 34.8 17.4 0.0 0.0 4.3

Tobacco Use Yes No

2 50

3.8 96.2

1 28

3.4 96.6

1 22

4.3 95.7

Themes

• Four central themes to describe successful aging: o Connecting and relatingo Temporalityo Perception and interpretationo Activity.

Connecting and Relating • Three subcategories:o Spiritualityo Friends and socialo Spouse• I feel like God has a plan and He’s

the one that’s setting it in motion.

And you live one day at a time, and if something happens that’s in the plan,

it’s not your plan, maybe, but I feel like it’s for a reason.”

• “living one day at a time, trusting the Lord.”

• “doing my part; God is more powerful than us”

• “A lot of females out there, widows. But I know quite a few who have I think

• significant others, come to think of it, I don’t think that any of these

• attractions have resulted in marriage. . .

Temporality • Impressions of the past• Family and history• Future generations. o I stayed under my grandmother’s feet and learned as much

as I could. I learned how to sew, cook and tend house from

my grandmother. She raised me. o I know that my childhood was full of hard times and we were very

poor.

But we were honest, hard working people and we did not mind

following the ways of living in southern Georgia, where I grew up.”o I think that it is important for young people to slow down and realize

how precious life is. These young people do not seem to take things

seriously.

Perception and Interpretation • Mental/cognitive o Recognize shortcomings—

don’t stress, make high goals

o (having and making) Choices

o Like things simple, make a decision and leave it alone

o Don’t get mad, get even• Adjusting (behaviors, ways

of being)o Used to hit that good old

bottle. . . but I quit drinking and

smoking. . . been married 36 years” and now volunteer

o Diabetes is normal now, checking it daily with medicine

Activity • Mobilityo I walk every day, just a little

short walk around the block,

because I have discovered that by not walking my balance is gone.

• Independenceo I like doing stuff on my own

as much as possible. I do not bother

people, you know how they say old people be worrying them

exercise, if you raise a garden you know you get your exercise

• Nutritiono Getting older you know that

your body is decreasing and you

take a few vitamins, especially my C and B vitamins

o I know it’s (diet) scary but I try to stick to it

Southern Region o Being black and living in the south was a challenging

thing,

but we made it because we did not bother anyone and we

minded our own business. o It was difficult because it was 12 of us but we did it and

my

father made sure that we kept a roof over our heads and had

food to eat. We did not have meat every night but we did have

something to eat. . . We were poor but we were a proud family.

o It has always been a struggle as a Black person, but me and

my family have not let that stop us from anything. o We never let being Black hold us back from.o It was hard and we had some hard trying times but we

made it.

Discussion and Implications

• Socioeconomic status influence• These findings are consistent with how other Black

older

adults have characterized successful aging. • There were more commonalities than differences in

these

Black and White Southern-dwelling participants’ accounts, though

there were some differences. • Connection and relating-varied interventions • Function of friends and family divergent • Temporality and perception • Southern influence

Conclusion o The Southern older adult population is increasing and

diversifying, making it imperative to design health promotion

interventions that are tailored to this regional group.o As a beginning, it may be helpful for providers to

incorporate

interventions such as those suggested here to promote

successful aging in Southern older adults.o This study yields some insights, elucidating target

areas

for promoting successful aging.

And the Journey Continues. . .

Meredith Troutman-Jordan PhD, PMHCNS-BC

UNC Charlotte

MeredithTroutman@uncc.edu

(704)687-7963

Source References available on request

Thank you for your time and attention