Uncovering strengths within community dwelling older adults: What does it mean for health care practice?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the psychological strengths we identified from interviews with community dwelling older adults. Data for this paper is drawn from participants in a community dwelling older adult study. The latter involved qualitative in‐depth interviews with the participants exploring their well‐being. All participants were community dwelling and living in a region in the North Island of New Zealand. Interviews took place between March 2017 to September 2017. Thirty‐seven older adults between the ages of 66–99 took part in semi‐structured interviews and all interviews were audio‐recorded. Interviews ranged from 1 to 3 hr. Analysis was informed by the Values in Action Character strengths framework. We were able to identify strengths within the VIA conceptual framework comprising; cognitive strengths, emotional strengths, social and community strengths, protective strengths and transcendental strengths. Throughout this study we found that participants experienced difficulties in identifying and talking about their strengths. In many ways this may reflect participants' strength of humility, demonstrating modesty in talking about themselves. This study has highlighted the challenges older adults experienced in identifying their own strengths. However, the study has demonstrated how narratives can be one way of uncovering psychological strengths with older adults. In particular, these findings highlight the range of strengths, for example, bravery, gratitude, hope, humour, kindness, perseverance, spirituality, that older adults have and give a voice in highlighting these. However, more practical ways of making strength‐based practices workable in daily practice, for example, in clinical assessment and health promotion programs are required.

Experiences and perception of character strengths among patients with breast cancer in China: a qualitative study

“…Modesty means an unwillingness to praise oneself and show off one’s qualities or achievements. 2 36 In all of our interviews, when we first mentioned expressing personal strengths, the participants often avoided talking and reflected that humility is a common occurrence. The participants were reluctant to talk about their own achievements and character strengths.…”

“…Studies of different cultures have revealed character strengths in different populations, including adolescents, 17 college students, 18 adults 6 and the elderly. 2 The classification model has been validated in 75 nations, with each sample including at least 150 respondents; these findings suggest substantial cross-cultural similarity in strengths. 19 Virtues are classes of character strengths that show individual differences but relative cross-cultural stability.…”

“…Strength-based approaches are receiving increasing international attention, 1 and are being applied to solve longitudinal clinical problems, such as promoting well-being and limiting ill-health. 2 Recognising and using individuals’ strengths lead to positive outcomes, such as coping, recovery and greater meaning in life. 3 Instead of focusing on problems, 4 researchers have proposed that character strengths should be incorporated into clinical practice to help clients enhance well-being.…”

“…The evidence so far indicates that character strengths are a helpful personal resource. 2 However, there is a gap in the literature concerning how patients with breast cancer identify their own strengths and use them. The applicability of the VIA classification among Chinese patients with breast cancer is still unclear.…”

Relationships among inner strength, health and function, well-being, and negative life events in old people: a longitudinal study

“…In the current longitudinal study CD predicted ISS, supporting the hypothesis that having a disease and/or going through a crises in life positively affects inner strength over time. Of interest may be that Waterworth et al ( 2020 ) found that old people had difficulty identifying and discussing their strengths. The measure of inner strength used in this study is based on how old people describe their perceptions of their own connectedness to others (e.g., if they see themselves as part of a community, and if they can seek support from others when in a difficult situation).…”