QUESTION(1)
The article predicting positive well- being in older men and women by Erin Waddell shows the different aspects in older adults’ lives that helps acquire a deep sense of well-being in their old age. Different variables are presented and they interact to act as contributors of a more positive well-being. It has closely looked at how these variables are linked to the affective state and the life satisfaction people aim to acquire in their old age in order for them to experience full positive well-being. The variables that tend to affect the affective states may include socioeconomic factors. These factors may include income and education. However, according to the findings, education did not hold a very strong importance in any of the two genders. Even though income was one of the factors that was predicted to contribute to well-being the findings showed that it was of no importance to any of the two genders(Waddell and Jacobs-Lawson 2010). When it came to life satisfaction the findings indicated that variables like religious attachment was very important for one to acquire a positive well-being. This was mostly affected women and not men. Another important factor that greatly contributes to the positive well-being in older adults according to the article is age. This was exceptionally important in women since the aspect of age made them have positive feelings about themselves, which contributed to their well-being. Older men termed marital status as an important aspect of well-being because it offered them a strong sense of support. Men who were married at their age we happier than those who were divorced or had lost their spouses. Self-rating health behavior was found to be a great contributor to positive well-being. This is because when one feels healthy they are able to function better in life. It also gives them feelings of happiness and satisfaction which is important for them to experience positive affective states and life satisfaction.
This assessment when put into practice can widely help older adults to live a more fulfilling life. Since the assessment indicates that depression is an area that may contribute to negative well-being, I would help the older adults experiencing depression to tackle it and engage them in activities that would help them reduce the effect of depression maybe by encouraging them to maintain a tighter bond with their close circle of friends as well as family. Educating the older adults on the benefits of maintain a healthy diet which will in turn improve their health and prevent the lifestyle diseases that may affect them can widely benefit them in the area of self-rating their health. They will begin to feel healthier and this will in turn give them a feeling of positive well-being. Encouraging them to engage in social work also improves their sense of positive well-being.
QUESTION(2)
Ancestry is a term used objectively and it gives implication to the geographical, context such as the motherlands i.e. countries of origin and birthplaces of either an individual, or the ancestors from which the person hails. Identity however is a more subjective term with basis on groups one claim they have affiliated to and are given recognition within the society. A person’s identity does overlap with his or her ancestral origin and there are factors such as socialization, schemas and knowledge and the most used to profile-physical appearance which are used to color perspective as to who people are.
The article gives an intricate description on the meaning of ancestry and racial or ethnic identity. First of these two concepts are social constructs. They are constructed at various levels and that is; the individual is integrated in a society that socializes them on their identity in terms of race and ancestry, for example, kids acquire their consciousness on issues to do with race and ethnicity from parents, and other members of their family. In addition, socialization takes place through modeling and vicarious learning. By watching, what neighbors, friends and family members do and how they react or speak about matters concerning their identity in specific situations around them in schools at work or at home. This goes on to create what is termed as a concept awareness of the ethnic self. Another view of the origin of racial awareness is the use of data gathering terms created to provide information about population e.g. “African American,” “Hispanic” and the like. Two other factors that influence racial and ethnic identity are resultant from shaping in political as well as institutional forces trough things such as; sanctions and laws used to regulate opportunities and rights of groups. Finally, certain identified customs, which affirm a group’s claims for particular entitlements and awareness by others(Perez and Hirschman 2009).
REFERENCE
Perez, Anthony Daniel, and Charles Hirschman. 2009. “The Changing Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Us Population: Emerging American Identities.” Population and Development Review 35(1): 1–51.
Waddell, Erin L, and Joy M Jacobs-Lawson. 2010. “Predicting Positive Well-Being in Older Men and Women.” International journal of aging human development 70(3): 181–97. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=20503804.
