Aging, Spirituality, and Time: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

We examined the concepts of aging, time, spirituality, and future care needs in four randomly selected informants from a group of 54 never-married childless older women. Using data from the Generativity and Lifestyles of Older Women (GLOW) study, we questioned how women’s perceptions of these concepts came together in current older age. We employed cultural theory, (our theoretical framework), ethnography, (our methodological framework), and phenomenology, (our philosophical foundation) to produce a portrait of each woman interviewed. Through a three-session interview process, we elicited the women’s life stories, reasons for childlessness, and topics that emerged as significant to the women, including aging, a sense of time remaining, and spirituality. A key finding was that the context of each woman’s life, both biographical and historical, transpired as a foundation for these concepts. That is, a woman’s “place in time” shaped their experiences of aging, as well as her reasons for childlessness and perceptions of finitude.

Psychological outcomes of life story work for community‐dwelling seniors: A randomised controlled trial

“…Activities related to LSW are valued for helping people to gain self-understanding (Ramvi, 2015) and recognise their self-worth (Chiang, Lu, Chu, Chang, & Chou, 2008). They help to reaffirm meaning in life by connecting people to life events and situations (Black & Hannum, 2015). Studies have also found that sharing one's life story enhances psychological well-being and increases life satisfaction (Chiang et al, 2008).…”