How do widowed male and female experiences of age-related changes such as loss, illness, and vulnerability differ in relation to attachment style and social connectedness?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Chapter One.
  • 1.1 Introduction.
  • 1.2 Background
  • 1.3 Researchers Motivation....…….
  • 1.4 Aims...........
  • 1.5 Objectives..
• Chapter Two
  • Literature Review
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 The Impact of Age-Related Changes in Later Life.
  • 2.3 Attachment Theory
  • 2.5 Attachment and Well-Being.
  • 2.6 The Role of Social Support and Attachment in Later Life.
  • 2.7 The Impact of Social Support..
  • 2.8 Consequences of Widowhood.
  • 2.8.1 Loneliness......
  • 2.9 Gender Differences in the Experience of Loss.
  • 2.10 The Role of Selection, Optimisation and Compensation.......
  • 2.11 Conclusion....
• Chapter Three
  • Methods...
  • 3.1 Design....
  • 3.2 Participants.
  • 3.2.1 Recruitment.
  • 3.2.2 Sample........
  • 3.2.3 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria...
  • 3.3 Materials
  • 3.3.1 Stage One: Short questionnaires..
  • 3.3.1.1 The Relationship Questionnaire..
  • 3.3.1.2 The Lubben Social Network Scale..
  • 3.3.2 Stage Two: Semi-structured interviews
  • 3.4 Procedure..
  • 3.5 Analysis
  • 3.6 Ethical considerations....

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to investigate how widowed elderly male and female experiences of age-related changes such as loss, illness and vulnerability differ in relation to attachment style and social support. The study seeks to understand how these factors affect well-being and how individuals adjust to the challenges of aging. * **The Impact of Age-Related Changes:** The study explores how experiences of loss, illness, and vulnerability affect older adults. * **Attachment Style and Social Support:** The study investigates the role of attachment style and social support in influencing well-being and adjustment to aging. * **Gender Differences:** The study examines potential gender differences in the experiences of widowed older adults. * **The Role of Selection, Optimisation and Compensation (SOC):** The study explores how the SOC model may contribute to successful aging. * **Loneliness and Burden:** The study investigates the experience of loneliness and the perception of being a burden among widowed older adults.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One: Introduction

This chapter introduces the research topic, providing background information on the experiences of widowed elderly individuals and the impact of age-related changes on their well-being. The chapter also outlines the research motivation, aims, and objectives.

Chapter Two: Literature Review

This chapter presents a comprehensive review of relevant literature, exploring various concepts such as attachment theory, the impact of age-related changes, the role of social support in later life, the consequences of widowhood, and gender differences in the experience of loss. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation model, highlighting its potential in successfully adjusting to age-related changes.

Chapter Three: Methods

This chapter outlines the research design, participant recruitment and sampling procedures, materials used in the study, including the Relationship Questionnaire and Lubben Social Network Scale, and the interview process. The chapter concludes with a description of the data analysis techniques and ethical considerations employed in the study.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on the experiences of widowed elderly individuals and explores key themes such as age-related changes, attachment style, social support, gender differences, and the role of selection, optimization, and compensation in successful aging. The study utilizes quantitative measures like the Relationship Questionnaire and Lubben Social Network Scale to assess attachment style and social connectedness, and employs Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interpret interview data and gain insight into the lived experiences of participants.