This work analyzed the affective experience in institutionalized (A) and non institutionalized (NA) two groups of 25 women with more than 60 years, residents in Ribeirão Preto. We used semi-structured interview about the life history and Test of Pfister. A and NA accorded with idealization of the childhood and the elderly and the youth's negative qualification. In the adult phase, the institutionalized referred more negative experience. The Pfister signaled, in both groups, preservation of the logical and affective function, but some anxiety. The absent of statistical differences between A and NA suggested that the institutionalization doesn't hinder, necessarily, the healthy experience of the elderly, and it indicates a direction for therapeutic interventions with this population.
Affective experience; Elderly; Iinstitutionalization; Test of Pfister
