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Background <p>The fourth age refers to a&#xa0;stage of life characterized by dependency, need for care and loss of identity. Due to the negative connotations associated with this stage of life, those affected reject identifying with it. Therefore, Gilleard and Higgs describe it as a&#xa0;social imaginary that is realized only through attribution by others.</p> Objective <p>This paper addresses the following questions: how do people in the fourth age deal with social devaluation and maintain a&#xa0;positive self-image?</p> Methods <p>In this stud 16 problem-centered interviews were conducted between 2019 and 2020 with older Austrians (aged 78–98 years) who had multiple health impairments and were analyzed using the documentary method.</p> Results <p>Older people with multiple impairments try to distance themselves from the negatively connoted group of care-dependent people in the fourth age and to maintain a&#xa0;positive social identity for themselves. In this context four strategies were identified: (1)&#xa0;comparing themselves with other older people in order to enhance their own situation, (2)&#xa0;reinterpreting autonomy in relation to support from others, (3)&#xa0;emphasizing their own capabilities and (4)&#xa0;selectively communicating their own well-being.</p> Conclusion <p>These strategies enable respondents to remain part of a&#xa0;positively valued group of dependent yet autonomous older people. The fourth age can therefore also be identified among people in the fourth age as a&#xa0;social imaginary.</p>

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Zuschreibungsprozesse des vierten Alters: Abgrenzungs- und Aufwertungsstrategien im Umgang mit sozialer Abwertung

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月13日

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  • Rebekka Steinlechner

摘要

Background

The fourth age refers to a stage of life characterized by dependency, need for care and loss of identity. Due to the negative connotations associated with this stage of life, those affected reject identifying with it. Therefore, Gilleard and Higgs describe it as a social imaginary that is realized only through attribution by others.

Objective

This paper addresses the following questions: how do people in the fourth age deal with social devaluation and maintain a positive self-image?

Methods

In this stud 16 problem-centered interviews were conducted between 2019 and 2020 with older Austrians (aged 78–98 years) who had multiple health impairments and were analyzed using the documentary method.

Results

Older people with multiple impairments try to distance themselves from the negatively connoted group of care-dependent people in the fourth age and to maintain a positive social identity for themselves. In this context four strategies were identified: (1) comparing themselves with other older people in order to enhance their own situation, (2) reinterpreting autonomy in relation to support from others, (3) emphasizing their own capabilities and (4) selectively communicating their own well-being.

Conclusion

These strategies enable respondents to remain part of a positively valued group of dependent yet autonomous older people. The fourth age can therefore also be identified among people in the fourth age as a social imaginary.