A498: ‘Taking time to listen’; A longitudinal thematic analysis of women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ASLWH) 1921-1926 cohort, who were widowed at baseline survey in 1996.

'Taking time to listen'; A longitudinal thematic analysis of women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ASLWH) 1921-1926 cohort, who were widowed at baseline survey in 1996.

Approved: 2014

Collaborators:

Dr Robyn Kennaugh
Prof Julie Byles
Prof Julie Byles
Dr Meredith Tavener
Ms Peta Forder

Synopsis

This research is a theory led exploration of women’s experiences of being a widow. A narrative will be produced of their stories, and it is against this background that the main components of the Salutogenesis Theory will be applied. The hypothesis is that there will be some evidence of generalised resistance resources evident in the lives of women who record a more positive outcome of their journey through the life changes that accompany the loss of their partner of spouse. Prior research by Feldman, Byles and Beaumont, “Is Anybody Listening?”, has highlighted the social consequences that may accompany the change in status that is experienced by women whose spouse dies.1 They have suggested that this factor has not had sufficient attention in other research to date. By focussing on the longitudinal narrative, it is an aim of this project to assess the relative importance and involvement of the 3 main components of the strength of coherence, which is the degree to which participants see the events in their life after their partner’s death as being comprehensible, manageable and meaningful.