Exlibris Social Gerontology Journal

Why did you do it ? Autobiographical retrospection in letters to younger self as a form of life review

Sabina Kmak, Barbara Zaremba-Żółtek, Urszula Kuśmierczyk, Natalia Starowicz — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the concept of life review through a letter addressed to oneself. The authors engage in an internal dialogue, within which they assess their own biographies and reflect on past experiences. This epistolary form reveals the complex relationship between the past and the present, enabling the narrators to engage in dialogue with their younger selves. The act of writing a letter is conceptualized here as a process of autobiographical reconstruction and reinterpretation of identity, fostering both existential review and the assignment of new meaning to past events. In this context, the letter appears not only as a research tool but also as a space for self-discovery and self-reflection, in which the present self engages in conversation with the past self. The advice and warnings articulated in this process transcend the individual, acquiring a universal appeal, and can also serve as a message addressed to a broad audience.

Intimacy and closeness in late adulthood. Meanings and significance in the narratives of older adults

Beta Tkacz, Karolina Ozga, Małgorzata Kłębczyk — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of the study was to explore how individuals in late adulthood make sense of their experiences of intimate relationships and sexuality. Intimacy and sexuality among older adults remain a relatively underexplored area, often burdened with social taboos and stereotypes. Despite the cultural perception of old age as a period of asexuality, research indicates that the need for closeness and intimacy persists throughout the entire life cycle. Understanding how older individuals interpret and redefine intimacy allows for a deeper grasp of the psychosocial aspects of ageing and the sources of relationship satisfaction. A qualitative study within the interpretative paradigm was conducted among 11 participants aged 65–80, using a triangulation of methods: narrative interviews based on Fritz Schütze’s approach and written accounts provided by the narrators. The analysis revealed that intimacy remains an essential component of older adults’ relationships, though it undergoes redefinition—from physical sexuality toward emotional closeness, tenderness, and mutual care. In late adulthood, intimacy manifests itself through everyday rituals, gestures, and shared presence, becoming a multidimensional experience—emotional, relational, and existential. Intimacy and sexuality in later life do not disappear but take on new forms of expression. Despite barriers such as health problems, individuals in late adulthood integrate intimacy into the life cycle of partnership. This highlights the need to redefine sexuality in old age, which may contribute to better adaptation of healthcare and social services for this age group.

Attitudes of pedagogy students towards elderly people - a comparative study on the example of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Katarzyna Jas-Liszok — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The article is a communication from a comparative research study conducted in 2023 among pedagogy students at Polish, Czech, and Slovak universities. The research used the semantic differential method. The research included 286 participants, all students from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The research aimed to find out the attitudes of pedagogy students towards older people. To verify the research questions, statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Frequency analyses, Spearman's rho rank correlation analyses, χ2 tests, and Fisher's exact tests were performed using this package. The classic threshold of α = 0.05 was considered the level of significance.

The analysis shows differing perceptions of older adults across nationalities, with most differences subtle and related to specific characteristics such as religiosity, education, or warmth in relationships.

The analysis's conclusions point to the need for further research into pedagogy students' attitudes toward older people. It is recommended to support intergenerational initiatives that, without the pressure to choose a specific career path, will inspire a positive attitude towards seniors. It is also crucial to provide sound knowledge about aging to build openness, dialogue, and connections across generations.

A conceptual framework for a prospective autobiography

Sławomir Sztobryn — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents the concept of prospective autobiography, in which the emphasis shifts from describing the past to shaping an individual’s future possibilities. The author argues that the traditional, retrospective approach to autobiography is linear and static, limiting identity to what has already happened. In the prospective approach, the past does not fully determine the present or the future; instead, it becomes dynamic material for constructing possible developmental pathways. Central to this perspective is the notion of re-construction – the creative process of making sense of one’s experiences and designing identity by interweaving past events with future possibilities. The prospective perspective integrates sensitivity to potential, autonomy, values, and ethical responsibility, making autobiography a tool for reflection, self-development, and developmental planning. This concept opens new research directions in pedagogy and social gerontology, showing that life narratives can serve not only to describe the past but also to actively shape an individual’s future.

Hoarding disorder, also known as Diogenes syndrome, in an older adult – a case study

Anna Gutowska — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article aims to present the case of a 72-year-old woman diagnosed with primary hoarding disorder – referred to in the literature as Diogenes syndrome – and to explore possibilities for supporting older adults from a socio-pedagogical perspective. This issue remains relatively underexamined in Polish non-medical research, despite its significant consequences for the individual’s functioning and their immediate environment. The article outlines the theoretical foundations of Diogenes syndrome, including its historical background, symptomatology, and multifactorial determinants, with particular emphasis on psychosocial and biographical factors typical of late adulthood. The empirical part of the study consists of a qualitative case study based on a narrative-biographical interview with the participant, analysis of medical records, and conversations with members of the therapeutic team and the family. The case analysis demonstrates the complexity of older adults’ functioning in the context of Diogenes syndrome and highlights the importance of long-term, relationship-based, interdisciplinary community support. The conclusions highlight the need to shift away from coercive measures toward approaches that respect older people’s autonomy, biography, and subjective experience, while underscoring the role of social pedagogy in preventing exclusion and reducing the stigmatization of older adults affected by pathological hoarding.

Pamela B. Teaster, Georgia J. Anetzberger, Elizabeth Podnieks, Benjamin Comire and E. Carlisle Shealy The Worldwide Face of Elder Abuse Springer, Switzerland, 2023

Małgorzata Niewiadomska — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article reviews The Worldwide Face of Elder Abuse by Pamela Teaster, Georgia Anetzberger, and Elizabeth Podnieks. The book presents the issue of violence against older people, organized by the World Health Organization. The problem of violence is presented as both a historical aspect and a contemporary approach to elder abuse in the presented part of the world. The authors review research and observations from various regions of the world to answer the question of what can be done to combat violence against older people. Also, they explain the political aspects of the given region and the initiatives undertaken, which, to varying degrees, yield positive outcomes.