A Phenomenological Analysis of the Life Experiences of Elderly Individuals

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 73, 205 - 216, 29.06.2024

Esra Erdoğan , İrem Nur Gürsoy , Hatice Kumcağız , Oğuzhan Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1338556_5

Öz

This study aims at making sense of the life experiences of elderly individuals over 65 years living in Samsun in three dimensions: family, education, and social life. To achieve that aim, the study was designed with phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods. The participants constitute 15 elderly individuals, determined with the snowball sampling technique. For the analysis, content analysis was performed through the MAXQDA data analysis program. Three themes emerged: family life, education life, and social life. Based on these themes, it was revealed that the family was an essential support for elderly individuals that made them happy or sad in their life course. Also, the other social interactions made elderly individuals satisfied; they did not feel lonely in this way. In those ages, they had different hobbies like gardening or religious activities. These gave them peace. Besides, they gained importance to education, and some had some regrets about their education process. These regrets arose from problems like low-income levels, family issues, and wrong choices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Old Age, Aging, Life Experience, Aging Experience

Kaynakça

• Adams-Price, C. E., Henley, T. B. & Hale, M. (1998). Phenomenology and the meaning of aging for young and old adults. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 47(4), 263-277. https://doi.org/10.2190/BM9Q-XKN5-4N3L-PP9W
• Akış, A.G., & Korkmaz-Yaylagül, N. (2021). Life-course perspective and old age. Adıyaman University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 14(8), 278-297. https://doi.org/10.14520/adyusbd.867560.
• Akbayrak, E., & Aysan, U. (2022). Proper and successful aging from the perspective of the elderly. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 22(55), 399-427. https://doi.org/10.21560/spcd.vi.1053840
• Bowling, A., & Dieppe, P. (2005). What is successful ageing and who should define it? BMJ, 331, 1548 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7531.1548
• Canatan, A. (2008). Social values and the elderly. Elderly Issues Research Journal, 1(1), 62-71.
• Cantekin, Ö. F. (2020). Elderly views on the suitability of urban life opportunities for the elderly. Turkish Journal of Social Research, 24(1), 29-40. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tsadergisi/issue/53617/688152
• Chen, Y., Zhao, L. & Xie, B. (2023). Living arrangements and subjective well-being of elderly Chinese Tibetan people: the mediating role of religion. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01753-3
• Çicek, B., Şahin, H. & Erkal, S. (2021). Active aging experiences of the elderly: a qualitative study. International Journal of Society Studies, 17(33), 371-384. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.773745.
• Erdoğan, E. & Dinç, S. (2020). As we get older, our lives are a lesson, In N. Gürhan (Ed.), Psychiatric nursing in the pandemic (pp. 49-53). Turkey Clinics.
• Greicius, M. D., Srivastava, G., Reiss, A. L. & Menon, V. (2004). Default-mode network activity distinguishes Alzheimer's disease from healthy aging: evidence from functional MRI. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 101(13), 4637–4642. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0308627101
• Görgün-Baran, A., Günay, B., Bereketli, B. & Işık, I. (2020). A qualitative research on the life experiences of the elderly in terms of social capital, trust and loneliness. Journal of Research on Elderly Issues, 13(2), 72-89. https://doi.org/10.46414/yasad.775885.
• Gusdal, A., Johansson-Pajala, R., Zander, V. & Von Heideken Wågert, P. (2021). Prerequisites for a healthy and independent life among older people: A Delphi study. Ageing & Society, 41(9), 2171-2187. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X20000306
• Hamedanchi, A., Zanjari, N., Khankeh, H. & Abolfathi Momtaz, Y. (2021). What does it mean to be never married in later life? Application of phenomenology in an aging study. The Qualitative Report, 26(4), 1232-1247. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4652
• Hsu, M.Y. & McCormack, B. (2011). Using narrative inquiry with older people to inform practice and service developments. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21, 841–849. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03851.x.
• Hsu, A. L., Murphy, C. T. & Kenyon, C. (2003). Regulation of aging and age-related disease by DAF-16 and heat-shock factor. Science (New York, N.Y.), 300(5622), 1142–1145. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1083701
• Inakov, S.A., Mamatkulov, B.B., Kosimova, K., Saidalikhujaeva, S. & Shoyusupova, K.B. (2020). Social and demographic characteristics of elderly and their lifestyle in developing countries: on the example of Uzbekistan. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 14(4), https://doi.org/7418-7425. 10.37506/ijfmt.v14i4.12821
• İçli, G. (2010). Elderly and the evaluation of old age: a qualitative research on Denizli province. Elderly Issues Research Journal, 1, 1-13. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/yasad/issue/21795/234243
• Kalyoncu, S., & Tekinsoy-Kartin, P. (2021). Active aging and nursing care. Journal of ERU Faculty of Health Sciences, 8(1), 26-32. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/erusaglik/issue/64150/858162
• Kalaycı, I., & Özkul, M. (2017). I wish I could protect my traditional position, be modern: elderly experiences in modernization process. Suleyman Demirel University The Journal of Visionary, 8(18), 90-110. https://doi.org/10.21076/vizyoner.308309
• Kılavuz, M. A. (2005). The Importance of the Religious Activities in Aging from the Point of Diminution the Solitude and Friendship Relation in Western Culture. Journal of Uludag University Faculty of Theology, 14(2), 25-39. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/uluifd/issue/13489/162984
• Kiremitçi, S., & Akçay, S. (2019). Current social work studies. In M. Kırlıoğlu & H.H. Tekin (Eds.), A qualitative study on the loss of spouse of the elderly: The case of Konya (pp. 22-33). Cartoon Bookstore.
• Li, M. & Woolrych, R. (2021). Experiences of older people and social inclusion in relation to smart “age-friendly” cities: a case study of Chongqing, China. Frontiers in Public Health, 9(779913), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.779913.
• Miller, G. E., Chen, E. & Parker, K. J. (2011). Psychological stress in childhood and susceptibility to the chronic diseases of aging: moving toward a model of behavioral and biological mechanisms. Psychological Bulletin, 137(6), 959–997. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024768
• Ng, S.T., Tey, N. P. & Asadullah, M. N. (2017). What matters for life satisfaction among the oldest-old? Evidence from China. PLOS ONE, 12(2), e0171799. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171799
• Öztürk, M. E. & Kayıhan, D. (2018). Healthy aging. Science Harmony, 1(1), 51-53. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/bilar/issue/41115/500281
• Samancı-Tekin, Ç. & Kara, F. (2018). Aging in the world and Turkey. International Journal of Scientific Research, 3(1), 219-229. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/ibadjournal/issue/31095/370584
• Softa-Kaçan, H., Bayraktar, T., & Uğuz, C. (2016). Factors affecting the perceived social support systems and healthy lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals. Elderly Issues Research Journal, 9, 1-12. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/yasad/issue/23911/254821
• Şahin, S. (2018). The relationship of life experiences with self-esteem, resilience and meaning given to life in adults. [Master Thesis, Kocaeli University] Yöktez.
• Tabatabaei, S. Z., & Ebrahimi, F. (2023). religion and subjective well-being among the female elderly people: A focused ethnography. Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.5812/mejrh-129593
• Tereci, T., Turan, G., Kasa, N., Öncel, T., & Arslansoyu, N. (2016). A look at the concept of old age. Beyond the Horizon Science Journal, 16(1), 85-102. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/uobild/issue/42561/513077
• Varışlı, B. (2020). Old age experience and intersectionality: The case of Istanbul. International Journal of Society Studies, 16(30), 2553-2561. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.693033.693033
• Van Hoof, J., van den Hoven, R.F.M., & Hess, M., van Staalduinen, W. H., Hulsebosch-Janssen, L. M. T. & Dikken, J. (2022). How older people experience the age-friendliness of The Hague: A quantitative study. Cities, 124, 1-10. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103568.
• Yeung, P., Severinsen, C., Good, G. & O’Donoghue, K. (2022) Social environment and quality of life among older people with diabetes and multiple chronic illnesses in New Zealand: Intermediary effects of psychosocial support and constraints. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(5), 768-780, https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1783375
• Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2021). Nitel araştırma yöntemleri (12. Bsk.) [Qualitative research methods (12nd Ed.]. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
• Yüksel, M.Y., Dincer, F., Buyukkose, H.T., & Lale, Z.H. (2014). A review on the leisure time of the elderly. Journal of Education and Training Research, 3(1), 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225006
• Zorn, C. R., & Johnson, M. T. (1997). Religious well-being in noninstitutionalized elderly women. Health Care for Women International, 18(3), 209-220. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399339709516276