FEMINISM, AGING, AND THE LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE: Robert H. Binstock, PhD, Editor

Up From the Ashes: Age and Gender Effects on Post-Traumatic Growth in Bereavement

“…These approaches have contributed to the shift from a singular focus on illness to an increased attention to psychosocial growth and other positive outcomes (Ramsey & Blieszner, 2012;Utz & Nordmeyer, 2007).…”

“…Although there are many areas in which both a lifespan and a feminist approach would be beneficial (Utz & Nordmeyer, 2007), the exploration of adaptation to bereavement is a particularly fruitful one. A few major turning points in bereavement research are noteworthy.…”

“…Age, like gender, may limit one's access to resources and is subject to the influences of advantage and disadvantage (Utz & Nordmeyer, 2007). In terms of bereavement adaptation, the developmental stage of the bereaved is likely to be an important factor (Floyd et al, 2013).…”

“…Joining lifespan developmental theory (Baltes, 1987) with feminist theory (Brown, 2008;Stroebe, Gergen, Gergen, & Stroebe, 1992) might provide such clarity to the area of post-traumatic growth, just as their successful combination has done for the area of spiritual resilience among older women (Ramsey & Blieszner, 2012). Age, like gender, often limits one's access to resources and is subject to the influences of advantage and disadvantage (Utz & Nordmeyer, 2007). Using post-modern (Stroebe et al, 1992) and post-structural approaches (MacConnell, Aston, Randel, & Zwaagstra, 2012) that acknowledge the rich cultural and historical context in which grief and growth are felt and expressed may move us toward a theoretically derived examination of growth, resilience, and normative processes of bereavement.…”

“…Given that our age range did not extend beyond current baby boomers, we can not speak with authority about whether this trend would continue among individuals who in their seventies, eighties, or older. It may be that although age and gender are each subject to influences of advantage and disadvantage (Utz & Nordmeyer, 2007), the current cohort of middle-aged and young-old adults are not experiencing a 'double jeopardy' effect. As the baby boomers continue to age, they can be expected to continue having improved emotion regulation into late life.…”