Significance of psychosocial factors for longevity and personality development of an ill person

The ‘‘Concept of the Demographic Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025’’ sets the task of increasing life expectancy of the Russian people, especially the period of their labor activity. The paper attempts to show the role of studying the phenomenon of longevity and the conditions for the progressive development and preservation of the working activity of chronic patients. The study provides insight into the personal-psychological and socio-psychological concepts of longevity; specifies such features of centenarians as peace of mind, optimism, active nature, adaptability; shows that for long life, interpersonal and institutional social support is of great importance, i.e. moral, psychological, organizational and material assistance, which a person gets by communicating with other people, groups and society as a whole. The paper focuses on the ways the compensatory mechanisms function when chronic patients’ capabilities are reduced or eliminated. The forms of compensation include increased interest in intellectual pursuits in physically weak and exhausted patients; artificial restriction of contacts, i.e. pseudo-autism, in physically disabled people; a propensity to indulge in fantasies and go into the dream-world in children and adolescents with incapacitating somatic diseases, changes in the daily routine, character and the pace of work, the mode of sexual life, nutrition, entertainment, clothing, the use of cosmetics, perfumes, etc. Through the examples from the history of culture, the study emphasizes the possibility of progressive development of the personality of a chronically ill person, stresses the idea that a person can overcome an illness thanks to stamina, courage, optimism, strong faith in his abilities and eventually unlock great spiritual and bodily potential.

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