GENDER DIFFERENCES IN EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF OLD AGE HOMES IN GUJRANWALA

Abstract

Introduction: Gender has a significant impact on how people perceive and manage life in institutional settings, but there are other characteristics that also influence emotional adjustment in old age. This study investigated the emotional adjustment of senior citizens in a Gujranwala, Pakistan, assisted living facility.

Literature Review: While previous studies have shown the difficulties older persons encounter, few have thoroughly examined the emotional disparities based on gender in residential care, especially in Pakistan.

Methodology: A man and a woman, were selected through purposive sampling and then interviewed in semi-structured interviews using a qualitative design based on thematic analysis.

Results: The research study found nine essential themes which influenced how people adapted emotionally during their time in the study. The research identified nine major themes which affected emotional adjustment through physical health and identity and peer support and emotional control and familial desertion and social disengagement.

Discussion: The research revealed that men isolated themselves while struggling to manage their emotions, whereas women sought social connections, which facilitated their emotional adaptation. The study revealed different patterns of identity development and purpose discovery, and coping strategies between male and female participants within the institutional environment.

Conclusion: This research shows that aging brings many emotional challenges and that care for the elderly should take gender differences into account. It also points to the need for more studies and stronger support systems that meet the specific emotional needs of both men and women living in residential homes.