Trajectories of resilience among widows: a latent transition model

Abstract

Objectives: In 2015 we identified three profiles of adaptation following spousal bereavement: Vulnerables; Copers and Resilients (Spahni, Morselli, Perrig-Chiello, & Bennett, 2015). However, adaptation to spousal bereavement is a dynamic process. Thus, we examine the trajectories of the same participants longitudinally over two years. We identify the stability and change in profiles of adaptation to widowhood; probability of stability and change; factors that influence trajectories in profile membership. Methods: Data stem from a longitudinal questionnaire study of 309 older widowed people. The questionnaire included five measures of well-being, serving as the dependent variables of this analysis, and measures of personal resources and contextual factors, including social support, marital happiness, psychological resilience, and demography. Data was analysed using latent transition analysis of the variables loneliness, hopelessness, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and subjective health. Results: The analysis replicated the three Wave 1 profiles as the best theoretical fit: Vulnerables; Copers; and Resilients. Stability was most common, but some participants moved to more or less adaptive profiles, the former being more frequent. Younger age, longer time since widowhood, new life perspectives facilitated adaptation. Those transitioning to less adaptive profiles were more likely to be women and older. Discussion: The path to adaptation was not linear. Many of the explanatory variables contributed both to positive and negative adaptation. These include previous caring experience, education, psychological resilience and personal strength. This suggests these explanatory variables do not act in isolation but are likely to interact with each other, and with other, yet not measured, factors.

Factors impacting resilience as a result of exposure to COVID-19: The ecological resilience model

“…At first glance one might find this surprising. However, Bennett et al (2019) [ 10 ] in their longitudinal study of widowers found that the pattern of education associated with resilience was complex. One could speculate that those with higher education levels might seek out information about COVID-19 which was not optimistic or that those with higher education levels might be more likely to be home working.…”

“…This study is focused on identifying the psychological, behavioural and community factors that can either promote or hinder resilient outcomes. Resilience can either be defined as a psychological trait that supports psychological wellbeing [ 5 ], or as the capacity for stability in wellbeing despite challenge [ 6 ] or as the ability to adapt and change or to bounce back in the face of challenge [ 7 – 10 ]. This current work takes into account all of these three perspectives (see also Kate Mary Bennett et al, 2019).…”

“…Pandemics, by their nature, affect many thousands of people at a discrete point of time, so provide an opportunity to study resilience on a larger scale than would normally be the case. Following the concept analysis and definition developed by Windle [ 11 ], Windle and Bennett [ 21 ] developed the ecological model of resilience ( Fig 1 ) which was originally developed in relationship to caregiving but has subsequently been used in other contexts, for example amongst older people living in poverty in Colombia [ 17 ], widowhood [ 10 ], chronic health conditions [ 22 ], and caregiving in relationship to end of life care [ 23 ] and dementia care [ 15 ].…”

“…To our knowledge, to date, few studies focused on positive outcomes during the 2020 pandemic [ 25 , 26 ] and even fewer on resilience [ 27 , 28 ]. Those that do focused on trait resilience (see [ 10 ] for a discussion). None of these studies were specifically aimed at testing a well-established theoretic model such as the ecological resilience approach in a representative population sample.…”

Terapi Stimulasi Kognitif Untuk Lansia Dengan Mild Cognitive Impairment: Studi Eksperimental Di Panti Wreda

“…Faktor psikososial yang mendukung merupakan salah satu prediktor yang dapat memengaruhi resiliensi serta kesehatan fisik dari lansia perempuan yang berstatus janda. 23 Kim dkk menyebutkan bahwa kegiatan stimulasi otak bermanfaat bukan hanya untuk perbaikan fungsi kognitif, melainkan juga kualitas hidup pesertanya. 24 Keterbatasan dalam penelitian ini adalah pemilihan sampel secara non-random sampling.…”