Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here for more information

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Research on Aging
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (3)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Porter, E. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

A Phenomenological Perspective on Older Widows’Satisfactions With Their Lives

Eileen J. Porter

University of Missouri, Columbia, PorterEJ{at}missouri.edu

The study of life satisfaction (LS) has been a preeminent focus in gerontological research, but the validity of the construct has been questioned. The main aim of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the structures of experience (phenomena) that older widows associated with perceptions of gratification, pleasure, or contentment. A secondary analysis was done of 44 interviews conducted with 16 older widows. The phenomenon of interest was savoring satisfactions. Six component phenomena, including "doing what I can for them" and "bringing variety to life," were common across the sample. The women’s specific intentions reflected personal nuances of the phenomenon. The personal-social context of the experience was described, and sources of satisfaction were highlighted as opportunities afforded by the environment. Findings were compared to domains typically measured in LS instruments and predominant research traditions. Ideas were cited for preventive interventions and further research about satisfying experiences and sources of satisfaction.

Key Words: life satisfaction • older widows • aging • construct validity • phenomenological research

Research on Aging, Vol. 27, No. 1, 80-115 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0164027504271347
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
E. J. Porter
Scales and Tales: Older Women's Difficulty With Daily Tasks
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2007; 62(3): S153 - S159.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]