Keeping up with the caravan of life: Successful aging strategies for Iranian women

Abstract

BackgroundBecause of improving life expectancy in the world in recent times, the focus has shifted to the issue of the quality and nature of life and how to assist successful aging (SA) rather than increasing physical survival and lifespan. SA is a multidimensional, relative, and context-dependent concept with different paths and outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore older women's strategies for SA in a specific context.MethodsFollowing a grounded theory design approach, we conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 21 women between the ages of 28 and 96 years. We analyzed the data from interviews, written narratives, and field notes using the grounded theory approach.ResultsWe identified four categories: prevention of threats, internal self-control against threats, coping with threats, and optimizing the passage of time according to opportunity. These described the strategies for SA when encountering with age-related changes. Utilizing these strategies, the women accompanied the caravan of life in the context of threats and opportunities.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that SA is a continuous process in confronting changes related to age. The identified strategies can help to promote SA by familiarizing older women with the threats and opportunities of life and training them in how to use these strategies.

Attachment: the mediating role of hope, religiosity, and life satisfaction in older adults

“…Further, studies in Iran have been determined a high prevelance of mental health problems in older adults that have resulted from care neglect and rejection [68]. This might be one reason why hope has been identified as an important factor predicting positive perceptions of ageing in older adults in Iran [9], and their ability to cope with challenges and threats to their well-being [69].…”

A Meta-Analysis of the Correlates of Successful Aging in Older Adults

“…Thus far, in addition to exploring the components of SA, there have been many studies on SA, including studies on perception of SA among diverse populations (Cheung & Lau, 2015; Javadi Pashaki, Mohammadi, Jafaraghaee, & Mehrdad, 2015; Javadi-Pashaki, Mohammadi, Jafaraghaee, & Mehrdad, 2015; Kelly & Lazarus, 2015; Reichstadt, Sengupta, Depp, Palinkas, & Jeste, 2010; Romo et al, 2013), exploring SA strategies (Harmell, Jeste, & Depp, 2014; Woo, 2011), and developing and testing SA instruments (Troutman, Nies, Small, & Bates, 2011). In particular, many prior studies have investigated the factors positively or negatively related to achieving SA in older individuals; thus, many correlates of SA have been documented.…”

Perceptions of Successful Ageing Among Iranian Elders

“…Despite the growing ageing population in Iran, much less attention has been given to successful ageing (Abdi-Zarin & Akbarian, 2007; Javadi, Mohammadi, Jafaraghaee, & Mehrdad, 2014; Javadi-Pashaki, Mohammadi, Jafaraghaee, & Mehrdad, 2015; Motamedi, 2005; Motamedi & Ejehee, 2003; Motamedi, Ejehee, Azad-Falah, & Kiamanesh, 2005). Thus, the aim of the present study is to explore the perceptions of successful ageing among Iranian older people.…”