Balancing instrumental rationality with value rationality: towards avoiding the pitfalls of the productivist ageing policy in the EU and the UK

The current dominant approach to active ageing policy in the EU and the UK is the productivist approach. Drawing on Weber's concepts of instrumental rationality and value rationality, this article argues that this approach is principally informed by instrumental rationality and thus has the potential to instrumentalize older persons, to become an oppressive ideological narrative, and to ignore the unique developmental meanings in late life. To avoid these pitfalls, the article proposes balancing instrumental rationality with value rationality. The balancing can occur in three dimensions. First, the value of internally oriented activities for late life should be recognized. Second, the value of participatory policy development needs to be upheld. Third, the value of meaning-in-life for the well-being and growth of older adults should be validated.

The role of meaning in life: mediating the effects of perceived knowledge of stroke on depression and life satisfaction among stroke survivors

Objective:

Meaning-making is a way of coping when facing adverse events. A paucity of literature suggests other possible factors (e.g. delivery of knowledge) can influence how chronic illness survivors (i.e. stroke survivors in rehabilitation) cope with illness. This article explores the importance and significance of meaning in life as a mediator between perceived stroke knowledge and psychological wellbeing among stroke survivors and how such processes can be applied in practice to promote their psychological wellbeing.

Methods:

A sample of N = 192 elderly aged 60 or above who experienced a recent stroke completed a survey to assess their levels of cognitive ability, physical function, perceived knowledge of stroke, meaning in life, life satisfaction, and depression. Correlation and mediation analyses using the Sobel test were conducted to clarify the role of meaning in life among stroke survivors.

Results:

Both perceived knowledge of stroke (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) and meaning in life had positive correlations with life satisfaction (r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and a negative correlation with depression. Analyses revealed that meaning in life is a significant mediator between perceived knowledge of stroke and depression (z = −3.71, P < 0.001) and between perceived knowledge of stroke and life satisfaction (z = 3.97, P < 0.001) in two separate models.

Conclusion:

The role of meaning in life is clear and can affect the dynamics between knowledge of stroke and one’s psychological wellbeing.