Perceived Challenges and Emotional Responses in the Daily Lives of Older Adults With Disabilities: A Text Mining Study

Abstract

This study explored the daily challenges and emotional reactions experienced by older adults living with various disabilities, employing both traditional and text mining approaches to ensure rigorous interpretation of qualitative data. In addition to employing a traditional qualitative data analysis method, such as thematic analysis, this paper also leveraged a text mining approach. By utilizing topic modeling and sentiment analysis, the study attempted to mitigate potential researcher bias and diminishes subjectivity in interpreting qualitative data. The findings indicated that older adults with visual impairments predominantly encountered challenges related to navigation, technology utilization, and online shopping. Individuals with hearing impairments chiefly struggled with communicating with healthcare providers, while those with mobility impairments face significant barriers in public participation and managing personal hygiene, such as showering. A prevailing sentiment of negative emotional states was identifiable among all participant groups, with those having visual impairments exhibiting more pronounced negative language patterns. The challenges perceived by participants varied depending on the types of disabilities they have. This study can serve as a valuable reference for researchers interested in a mixed-method strategy that combines conventional qualitative analysis with machine-assisted text analysis, illuminating the varied daily experiences and needs of the older adult population with disabilities.