Individuality and relatedness in middle and late adulthood: A study of women and men in the Netherlands, East- and West-Germany

Abstract

Individuality and relatedness are two comprehensive orientations during the whole life course. Scientific knowledge regarding the subjective importance and meaning of individuality and relatedness in middle and late adulthood is scarcely available. This thesis investigates the quantitative as well as qualitative meaning of the concepts. In order to reduce pre-definitions by researchers regarding the components of individuality and relatedness the perspective and methodology of personal meaning construction has been chosen since it deals with the subjective view of individuals. Data from the Dutch Aging Survey (N=925) and the German Aging Survey (N=2781) were used as the aim was to study the concepts in a sample permitting generalizations to the population of middle and old adults. Furthermore, this thesis concentrates on the variability in the second half of life, emphasizing developmental changes as well as cohort socialization as its possible causes. Moreover the question is asked as to whether the region of socialization (here the Netherlands, East-, and West-Germany) as well as gender is associated with different meanings with regard to individuality and relatedness. The findings give indications for theory formation and research methods. The results regarding the qualitative meaning of individuality and relatedness show the usefulness of studies with open instruments when investigating relatively unknown groups or concepts. The findings with regard to the quantitative relevance of individuality and relatedness disclose that recent conceptualizations of successful aging and psychological well-being in adulthood overemphasize individuality at the expense of relatedness. The comparison of men and women as well as three regions of socialization support the assumption that the construction of personal meaning is associated with past and present socialization

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