A Phenomenological Perspective on Older Widows’Satisfactions With Their Lives

Abstract

The study of life satisfaction (LS) has been a preeminent focus in gerontological research, but the validity of the construct has been questioned. The main aim of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the structures of experience (phenomena) that older widows associated with perceptions of gratification, pleasure, or contentment. A secondary analysis was done of 44 interviews conducted with 16 older widows. The phenomenon of interest was savoring satisfactions. Six component phenomena, including "doing what I can for them" and "bringing variety to life," were common across the sample. The women's specific intentions reflected personal nuances of the phenomenon. The personal-social context of the experience was described, and sources of satisfaction were highlighted as opportunities afforded by the environment. Findings were compared to domains typically measured in LS instruments and predominant research traditions. Ideas were cited for preventive interventions and further research about satisfying experiences and sources of satisfaction.

Problems With Preparing Food Reported by Frail Older Women Living Alone at Home

“…Drawing from the phenomenological sociology of Schutz and Luckmann, 30 which was inspired by Husserl, 29 I understand personalsocial context in terms of life-world. 23,24 Lifeworld is that fundamental "taken-for-granted frame in which all the problems which I must overcome are placed." 30(p4) So, I understood problems reported with food preparation as basic elements of life-world.…”

“…23(p36) Continuing to prepare preferred foods for daily consumption also was a way of "bringing variety to life,"and thereby "savoring the satisfactions"associated with living alone at home. 23,24 However, few of those relatively young older women had limitations that would have jeopardized food preparation routines.…”

Older homebound women's perceived risk of being unable to reach help quickly: Influence of situations involving age‐peers

“…The “everyday reality of the life-world includes not only the ‘nature’ experienced by me but also the social world in which I find myself” (Schutz & Luckmann, 1973, p. 5). In a series of phenomenological studies with older women living alone, Porter (1995, 2005a) has described the personal-social context of experience as life-world.…”

Trendovi u skrbi za osobe starije životne dobi u Republici Hrvatskoj i u zemljama Europske Unije

“…kino, kazalište, organizirani sadržaji) i samim time zadovoljniji su položajem u društvu, provođenjem slobodnog vremena, dosadašnjim životom te usporedbom svojega života sa životima prijatelja. Rezultati istraživanja zadovoljstva kod starijih udovica pokazuju da je najveći izvor zadovoljstva, a time i kvalitete života, zapravo osjećaj korisnosti, odnosno mogućnost davanja resursa koje starija osoba posjeduje, ali i mogućnost da im život bude zanimljiv (Porter, 2005.). Nadalje, nalazi istraživanja koje su proveli Yang i sur.…”