Hinwood, Jessica (2016) Perceptions of Ageing by Emerging Adults: A Focus on Grandparents with Dementia. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
This qualitative project explores the perceptions of ageing by emerging adults (aged 18-29), with a specific focus on the ways in which having a grandparent diagnosed with dementia may impact on these perceptions. Emerging adulthood is the developmental stage where adolescents transition into adulthood (30 and beyond). This is a life stage which, for many, is very self-focussed and exploratory. Conversely, witnessing the decline of a grandparent with dementia can be extremely confronting and often has a strong emotional impact on immediate family members. While there has been much research conducted on dementia and the affect it has on children and spouses of the diagnosed person, minimal research has been conducted on the effects on grandchildren. Limited research also exists on perceptions of ageing by younger people, with the majority of current literature focussing on how younger and older age groups perceive one another (i.e., stereotypes) rather than how they experience the process of ageing itself. This study explores how an emerging adult makes sense of such an experience and in particular, how it may shape their understanding of the ageing process. Three participants were recruited for the study with a snowball sampling method, whereby people known to the researcher recommended their own acquaintances who fit the criteria and who were interested in participating. The data was collected with audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews and the subsequent transcriptions were investigated using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four major themes were identified: (1) emotional closeness to grandparent versus emotional reactivity to dementia, (2) ‘old age’ as a fluid concept, (3) feeling ‘pinned’ to the present and, (4) internal conflict between desires, expectations and obligations. As an exploratory study, the results may contribute to knowledge about these important issues and identify topics for further research.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Jan du Preez |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2025 04:31 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Aug 2025 04:31 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ageing ; dementia ; emerging adulthood ; grandparents ; Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52416 |
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