摘要：A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out about adolescents (23), adults (21) and elders (27) lay conceptions about “elderly person” and “old age”. Seventy-one interviews were conducted. All participants took activities from Maringá – PR’s SESC, and were randomly selected. A lexicographic analysis and descending hierarchical classification involving text (software ALCESTE) were employed. Results: a) elders associated family relations, activity and the “young spirit” idea to the concept of “elderly person”; b) non-elders link “elderly person” to physical and psychological losses, experience and wisdom; c) all participants think of aging as a stage and not as a process, which is objectified by the old person’s character, in opposition to the more positive term: elderly person; and d) there were elements from Life-Span theory (Baltes), and ideas linked to the concept of successful aging.
其他摘要：A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out about adolescents (23), adults (21) and elders (27) lay conceptions about “elderly person” and “old age”. Seventy-one interviews were conducted. All participants took activities from Maringá – PR’s SESC, and were randomly selected. A lexicographic analysis and descending hierarchical classification involving text (software ALCESTE) were employed. Results: a) elders associated family relations, activity and the “young spirit” idea to the concept of “elderly person”; b) non-elders link “elderly person” to physical and psychological losses, experience and wisdom; c) all participants think of aging as a stage and not as a process, which is objectified by the old person’s character, in opposition to the more positive term: elderly person; and d) there were elements from Life-Span theory (Baltes), and ideas linked to the concept of successful aging.
