Voluntariado: sentido e qualidade de vida no processo de envelhecimento humano

Abstract

Human aging is a process conditioned to the historical, cultural, and economic situation of each place, with implications for the individual and society. There is an intense and gradual demographic transformation in Brazil and in the world, considering that the number of people aged 60 or older is on the rise. Volunteering among the elderly, although it is a topic that is still little explored in the scientific literature, has been highlighted as a resource of great social relevance, since it provides mutual benefits between the person who offers the services and the community that receives them. This master’s dissertation aims to analyze the importance of volunteering to improve the meaning and quality of life of the elderly. Two qualitative studies were produced. The first one sought to identify the perception of the participants regarding their own quality of life, considering the exercise of volunteering; and the second aimed to characterize the realization of creative, experiential, and attitudinal values, taking them as basic elements for the realization of the meaning of life. The research was carried out with 10 elderly people, aged between 60 and 79 years, who volunteered at the Oncological Patient Support Group (GAPO), in Campina Grande – PB. The following research instruments were used: 1) Sociodemographic questionnaire; 2) Semi-structured script for an interview about volunteering, quality of life and meaning of life. Data were analyzed using Content Analysis, of the Thematic Category Type. The concept of quality of life presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the theoretical contribution of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis were taken as reference for the meaning of life foundation. Through the interviews, four categories and 14 subcategories were listed in the first study, consisting of 67 excerpts from the speeches. Perceptions about quality of life gravitated around themes such as autonomy and independence, occupation and social interaction, with emphasis on health and well-being. In the second study, four categories and 16 subcategories emerged, composed of 94 excerpts from the speeches. The characterization of creative, experiential, and attitudinal values was established on themes such as work and good deeds, conviviality and friendship, as well as the attitude taken towards retirement, health limitations and death. It is possible to conclude that volunteering reflects on the perceptions of the elderly quality of life, as well as bringing together in its execution the three evaluative ways of finding meaning in life, considering the various benefits listed by the interviewees.