O estudo caracteriza o perfil socioeconômico de idosos, identifica os problemas/eventos ocorridos ao longo da vida do idoso; e levanta as formas de enfrentamento elaboradas diante dos problemas/eventos identificados, através de entrevista semi-estruturada com 60 idosos participantes de grupos de convivência. Concluímos que os eventos estressores dependem da situação vivida, do estágio de vida, das crenças existenciais, da estrutura de apoio e dos recursos pessoais, assumindo maior vulto na velhice. As perdas provocaram impacto no equilíbrio de que as vivenciou. As estratégias de enfrentamento elaboradas são provenientes da capacidade resolutiva, da rede social de apoio é de importância vital.
This study shows the social and economic standard of elders, identifies their problems or events occurred during their lives and brings up ways of how they deal with each matter. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, in which 60 elders of a support group took part. As result, we conclude that the stress factor depends on the living experience, the phase of their cycle of life, the existing beliefs, the kind of support they have and their personal resources. Those factors evolve as they get older. The feeling of lost causes an unbalance in the lives of those who experienced it. The strategies of standing up for each situation come from their capacity of problem solving and the social support they receive.
