scholarly journals HARDWIRED BIOLOGY AND LIGHT-BULB MOMENTS: DIVERGENT DISCOURSES AND LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER BISEXUAL WOMEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S826-S826
Author(s):  
Sarah Jen
Keyword(s):  
Later Life ◽  
Light Bulb ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Positive Sense ◽  
Life Context

Abstract Older bisexual women report a less positive sense of their sexual identity, less belonging in LGBTQ communities, and worse mental health outcomes compared to lesbian counterparts. These patterns are consistent with those identified among younger bisexual cohorts and appear to be connected to how bisexual identities are perceived and experienced; however, sexual identities take on unique meaning by gender and age and across historical contexts. To explore how older bisexual women construct and make meaning out of bisexual identities, this study applied a Foucauldian discursive and critical feminist conceptual framing to examine semi-structured interviews with bisexual women ages 60 and older (N=13). Findings reveal two divergent groups of women, the Early Emergers and Mature Migrators, who differ in their constructions of bisexuality and the timing of their first experienced attractions to other women. While the Early Emergers construct bisexuality as a stable, “hardwired” biological concept, the Mature Migrators challenge this narrative by emphasizing the fluidity of sexuality through discourses of migration spurred by “light bulb” moments in which they first recognized their attractions to women. This study illustrates the contributions of discourse analysis in revealing nuanced constructions of life course histories as well as the need for acknowledgment of life context in research and practice with older bisexual individuals. Scholars and practitioners must intentionally critique and contribute to discourses of bisexuality in later life.

Vieillir, dit-elle: Nancy Huston's Feminist Trajectory and Writing Female Ageing

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-339
Author(s):  
Kate Averis
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Process ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Feminist Studies ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Existential Crisis ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Gender And Age

This article examines Nancy Huston's writing of female ageing in light of her intellectual and personal trajectory as a feminist thinker. It identifies women's ageing as an integrative and ubiquitous phenomenon in Huston's œuvre, tracing the presence of this thematic and theoretical concern to her very first published works, and outlining its development until her most recent works, before examining a key instance of her fictional treatment of female ageing in Lignes de faille. Drawing on a literary, philosophical and sociological theoretical framework, it argues that Huston furthers feminist approaches to female senescence by inscribing women's experiences of later life not in terms of existential crisis but rather as part of the continuous process of change and transformation inherent to subjective development. The analysis aims to address pressing questions surrounding the intersections of gender and age that are at the forefront of Huston criticism and feminist studies.

scholarly journals Sexuality in Later Life and Mental Health Among Older Black Gay Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 313-314
Author(s):  
Darlingtina Esiaka ◽  
Alice Cheng ◽  
Candidus Nwakasi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Black Gay Men

Abstract Self-acknowledgement and integration of racial and sexual identities are significant to one’s overall sense of identity because of their implications for mental health and wellbeing. These issues are important as one ages because older people experience a wide range of factors that add layers to their ability to (re)integrate subsets of their identity into their overall self-identity such as age and age-related disabilities. This study examined the intersection of race and sexual identities on overall health status in older Black gay men, a demographic group that has historically received less attention. Data from the Social Justice Sexuality (SJS) survey of LGBTQ+ people of color which occurred over a 12-month period in the United States were analyzed. Participants (N=160), 50 years and over, responded to questions about their sexuality, social identity, family dynamics, community connection and engagement, and mental and physical health. Results show an association of mental wellbeing with racial and sexual identities. Further, results show that a strong sense of connection to other sexual minorities is positively associated with mental health in older Black gay men. We discuss the implication of findings for mental health interventions targeting this gendered population.

scholarly journals Designing Age-Friendly Communities: Exploring Qualitative Perspectives on Urban Green Spaces and Ageing in Two Indian Megacities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1491
Author(s):  
Deepti Adlakha ◽  
Mina Chandra ◽  
Murali Krishna ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Mark A. Tully
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
World Health ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Activity Promotion

The World Health Organization and the United Nations have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban green space (UGS) for healthy ageing. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India with exponential ageing populations have inadequate UGS. This qualitative study examined the relationships between UGS and healthy ageing in two megacities in India. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling in New Delhi and Chennai and semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants (N = 60, female = 51%; age > 60 years; fluent in English, Hindi, or Tamil). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive and thematic analysis. Benefits of UGS included community building and social capital, improved health and social resilience, physical activity promotion, reduced exposure to noise, air pollution, and heat. Poorly maintained UGS and lack of safe, age-friendly pedestrian infrastructure were identified as barriers to health promotion in later life. Neighbourhood disorder and crime constrained older adults’ use of UGS in low-income neighbourhoods. This study underscores the role of UGS in the design of age-friendly communities in India. The findings highlight the benefits of UGS for older adults, particularly those living in socially disadvantaged or underserved communities, which often have least access to high-quality parks and green areas.

Discordance between the perceptions of clinicians and families about end-of-life trajectories in hospitalized dementia patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Felicity Moon ◽  
David W. Kissane ◽  
Fiona McDermott
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Terminal Condition ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Illness Progression

Abstract Background Due to the unpredictable dementia trajectory, it is challenging to recognize illness progression and the appropriateness of a palliative approach. Further confusion occurs during hospitalization where the presence of comorbid conditions complicates prognostication. This research examined clinicians and families' perceptions of dementia as a terminal condition in relation to end-of-life admissions. Context The study was based in the General Medicine units of one Australian public hospital. Medical, nursing, and social work clinicians were recruited to reflect multidisciplinary perspectives. Bereaved caregivers of deceased patients with dementia were interviewed 3 months following death. Methods Qualitative research underpinned by a social constructionist epistemology and framed through complex systems theory. Semi-structured interviews generated data that illuminated perceptions of deterioration observed toward the end of life. Results Although participants anticipated general cognitive and physical deterioration associated with dementia, the emergence of comorbid illness made it difficult to predict the onset of the end of life. During a hospital admission, clinicians attributed the end of life to the advanced outcomes of dementia, whereas families described new medical crises. End-of-life admissions illuminated intersections between dementia and comorbidities rather than illness progression. In contrast with the perception that people with dementia lose awareness at the end of life, families drew attention to evidence that their loved one was present during the dying phase. Significance of results Our findings challenge the dominant understanding of dementia trajectories. Bifurcations between clinicians and families' views demonstrate the difficulties in recognizing end-of-life transitions. Implications for the integration of palliative care are considered.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Motivations for Participating in a “Tune-Up” of Their Driving Skills: A Multi-Stakeholder Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482098241
Author(s):  
Ruheena Sangrar ◽  
Kyung Joon Mun ◽  
Lauren E. Griffith ◽  
Lori Letts ◽  
Brenda Vrkljan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Driver Training ◽  
Near Misses ◽  
Driving Experience

Driver training has the potential to keep older adults safe behind-the-wheel for longer, yet there is limited evidence describing factors that influence their willingness to participate in training. Focus groups with community-dwelling older drivers ( n = 23; 70–90 years) and semi-structured interviews with driving instructors ( n = 6) and occupational therapists ( n = 5) were conducted to identify these factors. Qualitative descriptive analyses highlighted how self-awareness of behind-the-wheel abilities in later life can influence an older adult’s motivation to participate in driver training, as well as their willingness to discuss their behaviors. Collision-involvement and near-misses prompted participants to reflect on their driving abilities and their openness to feedback. Participants’ preferences for learning contexts that use a strengths-based approach and validate the driving experience of older drivers, while providing feedback on behind-the-wheel performance, were raised. Older driver training initiatives that consider the needs of the aging population in their design can promote road safety and community mobility.

Growing Older

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 707-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Terrill ◽  
Judith Gullifer
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Structured Interviews

This study explored experiences of eight rural, Anglo-Australian women aged between 65 and 75 using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three prominent themes: (a) the free and busy me highlights the increased freedom in later life enabling choices regarding activities the women would like to engage in; (b) the secret is being positive and pragmatic emphasizes the importance of adopting a pragmatic acceptance of growing older; and (c) narratives of growth and stagnation highlights the pursuit of growth among older women in order to enhance the current self. Findings emphasize the construction of later life as one of liberation, resilience and growth.

scholarly journals Use and traditional knowledge of Byrsonima crassifolia and B. coccolobifolia (Malpighiaceae) in a Makuxi community of the Roraima savanna, northern Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Leonardo Costa de OLIVEIRA ◽  
Veridiana Vizoni SCUDELLER ◽  
Reinaldo Imbrozio BARBOSA
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Ethnobotanical Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Fruit Species ◽  
Byrsonima Crassifolia ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Indigenous Land

ABSTRACT Byrsonima crassifolia and B. coccolobifolia, popularly known as mirixis, muricis, mantecos or nances, are common fruit species in the Amazonian savannas. Their fruits are used in the preparation of juices and other beverages, while the other parts of the plants are used for different purposes in some indigenous communities. The aim of the present ethnobotanical study was to investigate the knowledge and traditional uses of mirixis in the Darora Indigenous Community, of the Makuxi ethnicity, in the São Marcos Indigenous Land, state of Roraima, northern Brazil. The knowledge on these species among the residents was analyzed considering their gender and age. A survey was carried out by means of semi-structured interviews with 60 respondents (36 men and 24 women), between 18 and 84 years of age. Data from the interviewees was compared between genders and two age groups (< 40 and ≥ 40 years of age). Ethnobotanical indices (Informant diversity value; Informant equability value) were calculated, and no significant differences were found in the diversity of uses between genders (U = 283.0000, p > 0.05) and age groups (U = 359.5000, p > 0.05), indicating that the knowledge on the species is evenly distributed among residents. Results show that both species are used for different purposes in the food, fuelwood and medicinal categories in the Darora Community, and this knowledge is widely shared among adult men and women of all ages.

scholarly journals Later life ICT learners ageing well

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Russell
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Peer Tutors ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology ◽  
Sydney Australia

This article is based on a qualitative study of later life computer learners and their learning experiences in Sydney, Australia. Participants who undertook lessons from peer tutors in non-formal learning environments were aged between 63 and 86. Sixteen later life learners were interviewed individually by using hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. The use of semi-structured interviews provided opportunities for participants to elaborate and reflect on their learning and lived experiences. The interviews took place over a period of seven years, from 2003 to 2010. The main aim of the study was to understand and interpret the lived experiences of information and communication technology (ICT) learning in later life. Interpretations from the study suggested that learning and using a computer contributed to a sense of well-being, furthered an understanding of the lifeworld and provided participants with a heightened sense of belonging. In this article, well-being is discussed in the context of ageing and learning in a modern developed country. The ontological and existential themes of being, becoming and belonging are explored and used as a framework to interpret the findings from the study.

scholarly journals Curriculum flexibility in a blended curriculum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herma Jonker ◽  
Virginie März ◽  
Joke Voogt
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Teacher Education Institution ◽  
Student Enrolment

This study offers insights into the processes that play a role in realising curriculum flexibility. Curriculum flexibility is conceptualised in terms of adaptability and accessibility of the curriculum to students’ needs and capabilities. To realise curriculum flexibility, the teacher education institution in this study designed a blended curriculum with face-to-face and online components. This flexible curriculum aimed at increasing student enrolment and allowing for variety in students’ graduation portfolios. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 teacher educators, conditions that could foster or hinder the realisation of flexibility were investigated. Results indicate that different contextual, teacher-, and student-related conditions were perceived to affect (further) curriculum flexibility. Furthermore, teacher educators identified several challenges related to these influential conditions, which were recognised as tensions. Based on a discussion of these findings, recommendations for research and practice are given.

scholarly journals Older adults, informal support, and the process of driving cessation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Amy Murray ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Informal Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Driving Cessation ◽  
Homogeneous Sample

The following thesis is based upon an exploration into the process of driving cessation in later life, with a specific focus upon informal support. Although informal support has been highlighted as a highly important factor across the process of driving cessation (Johnson, 2008; Hanson & Hilldebrand, 2011; Ichikawa et al, 2016; Schryer et al, 2017), there is limited research which has explored this in depth. There is even less literature available which has incorporated the views of informal support network members, to understand their lived experiences of the driving cessation process. Studies which have addressed this gap, have tended to focus upon the views of adult children only (Rosenbloom, 2010; O’Connell et al, 2013). Using a phenomenological line of qualitative inquiry, individual semi-structured interviews with current and retired older drivers (n=15), and their family, friends, and wider community members (n=15) were completed. This was to provide a holistic approach to understand the driving cessation process, for the receivers and providers of informal support. Following a detailed thematic analysis, findings revealed both the process of driving cessation and informal support, to be profoundly complex, multi-faceted phenomena’s, holding multiple meanings for participants. This included a range of practical and psychosocial outcomes, which were both positive and negative. Often, findings were inter-linked, demonstrating the complexity of experiences amongst this far from homogeneous sample. The implications of the study have important messages for a number of individuals and groups, including older adults, their informal networks, policy and practice, and third sector organisations.

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