Relational aspects of meaning in life among older people – a group-interview gerontechnology study

Abstract

Earlier studies show that experiencing life as meaningful in old age promotes holistic wellbeing and health among older people. As more and more people are living with reduced capacities in their own homes, there is an urgent need to find new ways of promoting holistic wellbeing of the ageing population. Analysing data gathered from existential discussion groups on Service TV (STV), we show how strongly relationality and meaning in life are intertwined for older people. Our findings indicate that respect and support for the autonomy of older people is very important: in order to continue living at home, and prepare for a future with reduced capacities, they need family members for support. Autonomy of ageing becomes relational as choices and wishes are negotiated with family members. Relationships also contribute to loss of meaning. When older people felt that they were not close enough to their family, longed for friends of the same age, were bereaved or widowed, the relational gap caused a violation of meaning. In contrast, participation and activities with peers brought deep joy and connectedness to the lives of the participants. STV provided a new channel for participants to find and form meaningful relationships. Therefore, it is concluded that relationality can be supported by technological means of care.

To Live or Die: What to Wish at 100 Years and Older

“…Through a phenomenological examination of life-satisfaction and compensatory strategies in Jewish-Canadian centenarians, Milevsky (2021) found that compensatory, cultural, and religious processes were imbued into several of the themes, such as "Maintaining connections with family, friends, and God" (p. 101) and "Remaining positive and kind" (p. 104). It is expected to have an intrinsic need to have hope that goes beyond this life and have faith either in something or in someone, which can be religiously oriented or without any religiosity (Saarelainen et al, 2020). But the huge presence of religion in centenarians' discourses found in the present study may echo the importance of church and military in shaping the lives of this older Portuguese generation (Birmingham, 2003), as well as the overall impact of religious beliefs, practices, and culture (Boerner et al, 2019).…”

“…Social factors also seem to have a contribution to will to live (Bornet et al, 2021), being an important source of meaning in life among older people (Saarelainen et al, 2020). Social relationships and support may be particularly important for centenarians (Boerner et al, 2016).…”

Fenomenologinen analyysi elämän loppuvaihetta elävien ikääntyvien uskonnollisuuden relationaalisista ulottuvuuksista

“…esim. Saarelainen ym., 2020;2022;Baumeister, 2005. ) Ymmärrämme uskonnollisuuden prosessiksi, jossa yksilö etsii syvää merkitystä erilaisilla pyhään liittyvillä tavoilla.…”

“…(esim. Saarelainen ym., 2020;2022) Yhteisön tuoma lohdutus on keskeinen elementti tarkastellessa uskonnollisia elämänhallintakeinoja (esim. Pargament, 1997).…”

Gender Differences in the Relationships between Meaning in Life, Mental Health Status and Digital Media Use during Covid-19

“…Moreover, recent ndings suggested a negative relationship between interpersonal alienation and MIL during COVID-19 (10). Interpersonal relationships have been widely regarded as a source of MIL (11)(12)(13).…”