“I have no reason not to be happy”: The social and bodily conditions of positive aging for Latin-American men in Mexico

Abstract

Context Latin-American countries are faced with the challenge of trying to adapt to an aging population, which is exacerbated by the unequal access to income through social security. Previous research from Mexico has focused on the negative consequences of aging in contexts of social adversity.

Objectives To explore, describe, and characterize the lived experience of old age in Mexican retired men who, despite having diverse medical conditions and meager funds in retirement, led independent and fairly fulfilling lives.

Methods An in-depth idiographic analysis was conducted following the experiential methodology of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants (aged 65–81) were interviewed.

Results Two superordinate themes emerged as the subjective conditions for a positive experience in old age: (1) the conservation of social agency, and (2) the preservation of a strong bodily identity. Participants from different occupations prior to retirement depicted contrasting narratives.

Conclusions Perceived financial security, despite modest means, was the underlying condition upon which subjective experiences of old age was based. The results show that in countries like Mexico, there is a possibility to reimagine old age as a fulfilling stage in life.