TY - JOUR
T1 - Encouraging older adults to use assistive devices
T2 - The role of politeness theory
AU - McDonough, Claire
AU - Ryan, Rebecca
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The current study explored the application of Politeness Theory within the context of conversations between older adults and their adult children about acquiring assistive devices. Politeness Theory posits that we want our public self-image, i.e. ‘face’ to be respected, and that concept of face is divided into negative face and positive face. We can show respect for negative face by communicating we value a person’s autonomy, and we can show respect for positive face by communicating we value a person’s abilities. Participants age 65 years or older were randomly assigned to read one of four scripts of a conversation between an older adult and her adult child in which varying levels of respect for autonomy and abilities were expressed. The respect for both autonomy (negative face) and abilities (positive face) group reported significantly higher levels of willingness to consider acquiring assistive devices compared to the threatening both autonomy and ability group. Additionally, the role of geographic regions was explored and the findings were consistent across rural and urban contexts. The use of assistive devices among those who need them has been found to result in pervasive benefits in a variety of areas including physical health, mental health, functional abilities, and social activity. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for education in an array of contexts.
AB - The current study explored the application of Politeness Theory within the context of conversations between older adults and their adult children about acquiring assistive devices. Politeness Theory posits that we want our public self-image, i.e. ‘face’ to be respected, and that concept of face is divided into negative face and positive face. We can show respect for negative face by communicating we value a person’s autonomy, and we can show respect for positive face by communicating we value a person’s abilities. Participants age 65 years or older were randomly assigned to read one of four scripts of a conversation between an older adult and her adult child in which varying levels of respect for autonomy and abilities were expressed. The respect for both autonomy (negative face) and abilities (positive face) group reported significantly higher levels of willingness to consider acquiring assistive devices compared to the threatening both autonomy and ability group. Additionally, the role of geographic regions was explored and the findings were consistent across rural and urban contexts. The use of assistive devices among those who need them has been found to result in pervasive benefits in a variety of areas including physical health, mental health, functional abilities, and social activity. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for education in an array of contexts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147294804&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03601277.2023.2172537
DO - 10.1080/03601277.2023.2172537
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85147294804
SN - 0360-1277
VL - 49
SP - 855
EP - 865
JO - Educational Gerontology
JF - Educational Gerontology
IS - 10
ER -