1 7 th Conference of European Sociological Association, 9th-12 th September 2005, Torun, Poland Outi Jolanki, MSc (Sociology) Assisting Professor (Gerontology), Researcher Tampere School of Public Health FIN-33014 University of Tampere, FINLAND outi.jolanki@uta.fi Health and morality Abstract The study analysed health talk of people aged 70 or over in the context of group discussions. The focus was on participants views concerning possibility to influence health by own actions, individual responsibility for own health, and the relation of old age and health. The study represents the disciplines of social gerontology and medical sociology. The ideas of social constructionism and the method of discourse analysis were applied. In accounts of concrete situations of everyday life participants gave varying definitions of ‘healthy living’, and factors that limit responsibility for health, and chances of making a difference to one’s health. In conclusion, participants were not only giving factual reports of their health, but ‘performing’ their identities as worthy members of society and defining themselves as virtuous actor. Objectives of the study are, firstly, to give an idea of how talk about health and old age can be analysed as interaction process, in which different sometimes contrasting meanings are applied and negotiated. Secondly, to stress the importance of acknowledging the contextual, situational and moral aspects of health talk in aging research. Finally, the situated repertoires used by participants are compared to broader cultural discourses of old age and health.