DATE: Monday, December 17, 2012
TIME: 12:00 p.m
PLACE: Studio, Lambert Road campus
CANDIDATE: Marilyn Osborne Rock
DISSERTATION TITLE: "Image of Aging—Baby Boomer Style"
PROGRAM-TRACK/YEAR: PhD-B; 2003

CHAIR: Dr. Christine Peterson
READER: Dr. Christy Lewis
EXTERNAL READER: Dr. Allan Chinen

Rock, M. (2012). Image of Aging—Baby Boomer Style (Doctoral dissertation, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2012)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the images of aging of a small sample of Early Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1951. The Baby Boomers are a generation consisting of those born between 1946 and 1964. This study focuses on a narrower range of birth years in order to capture the images of aging of those now 60 and over who came of age in the 1960s and early 1970s. They represent the first wave of the Baby Boom Generation to reach age 65, society's maker of "old age." Baby Boomers are the largest generation in history and currently 10,000 of them are turning 65 every day. The questions posed in this study were to explore how these Early Baby Boomers expect to age, how their generational experience influence their image of aging, and how that image differs from that of previous generations.

Using a phenomenological and hermeneutical research method, eight men and eight women with like ethnic, demographic, and socioeconomically characteristics were interviewed. Through recordings and verbatim transcriptions the collective meaning of life, aging influences, fears, and expected life spans were determined. The collective results were compared to literature of aging stereotypes of previous generations. This select group reported that they will not age and are surprised when experiencing small signs of aging. Work is what brings meaning to their lives and they have no plans of retiring. They expect to maintain control over the length and quality of their lives. These Early Baby Boomers expect to establish a new image of aging.

 As the numbers of Baby Boomers age, and lifespan lengthens, unavoidable losses will occur. Researchers predict an increase in depression, addiction, and dementia. The Early Baby Boomer expects their needs to be met and as those losses occur they will increasingly seek mental health professionals to “fix” their emotional responses. It is important for the mental health professionals to understand the unique generational lens from which Boomers view aging in order to provide quality assessment, recommendations, referral, and treatment.

Key words: boomer; aging; generation; image; mental health; retirement; lifespan.