Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the multidimensional nature of the experience of old age and the effects of social changes on this experience through the film “Hanım.” The study aims to make the phenomena of aging, loneliness, social isolation, and social exclusion visible through cinema and to foster a better understanding of the psychosocial experiences of older individuals. Method: A thematic analysis approach was employed in the research. The 1990 film “Hanım” was selected as the sample because it reflects the effects of urbanization, modernization, and transformations in family structure on older adults. Scenes in the film were analyzed at the levels of scene, dialogue, and thematic units and evaluated from psychological, sociological, and gerontological perspectives. Results: The analysis identified the following core themes: elderly loneliness and social isolation, psychosocial effects, ageism, othering, devaluation, nostalgia for the past, elderly vulnerability, neglect and abuse, and end-of-life and preparation for death. The findings demonstrate that the experience of aging is not merely an individual process; rather, it exhibits a multi-layered structure shaped by the weakening of social relationships, economic vulnerability, the dissolution of family bonds, and societal attitudes. Conclusion: The film "Hanım" provides an important resource for understanding the effects of aging and social isolation in the 1990s. In this regard, it is recommended that cinematic narratives on aging be used as material in awareness-raising education and academic studies; that aging issues be addressed as a societal rather than an individual problem; and that empowering social policies, such as animal-assisted interventions, be developed.
DOI: 10.18863/pgy.1839553
Institution: Muğla University
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7150105177