Happiness, thriving, social participation, ageism and community integration of seniors living in a conventional home and in a private residence for seniors (RPA): a mixed research project

Project Description

The master's (or doctoral or post-doctoral) project will be integrated into an innovative research project aimed at better understanding the influence of the place of residence and the living environment on seniors' happiness. Little is known about the influence of place of residence on the central aspects of active and healthy aging, including happiness and the factors associated with it. Specifically, the project aims to 1) compare the happiness, thriving, social participation, ageism and community integration of seniors living in a conventional home and in an RPP, and the associations between these concepts; and 2) explore the happiness, fulfillment, social participation, ageism and community integration of seniors, considering their living environment. Developing this knowledge will support seniors in making decisions about where to live, as well as guiding societal decisions.

The research will be carried out using a mixed-method design. A cross-sectional survey was carried out with a sample of 1,000 seniors, half living in a conventional home and the other half in an RPA. Multilevel analyses will test, according to place of residence, associations between happiness, thriving and social participation, by testing the moderating effect of ageism and community integration, and controlling for personal characteristics of respondents and their environment. Next, an exploratory qualitative clinical research design will explore a variety of experiences with participants from conventional homes and RPAs, selected from those reporting high and low happiness. A deeper understanding of the factors associated with happiness will enable the development of interventions and tools for awareness-raising and decision support, aimed at increasing the happiness, social participation and integration of seniors in their community, and reducing age-related prejudices based on place of residence.

Under the supervision of Dr. Mélanie Levasseur and her research team, the student will play an active role in data analysis and in conducting semi-structured interviews, as well as in knowledge transfer activities.

The project will be carried out at the Research Centre on Aging (CdRV) of the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS, one of the most important specialized centers on aging in Canada, and home to some fifty nationally and internationally recognized researchers in several disciplines. This renowned and well-established environment offers a dynamic setting, conducive to professional growth and the emergence of interdisciplinary research collaborations.

Special requirement: Apply for CdRV, FRQ and CIHR research grants

The last update was on 23 November 2023. The University reserves the right to modify its projects without notice.