Exploration of elderly women lived experiences about psychological- emotional changes: a qualitative study

The aging period is associated with many life stressors. Theories of aging multiplicity from psychological perspectives are the evidence for important psychological- emotional changes category in aging. Nurses and all health care professionals to provide preventive services، education and care need to understand these changes through the lived experiences of older women. Therefore، in order to explorate the elderly women lived experiences about psychological- emotional changes; this study was designed and conducted.

This qualitative study is part of a larger study carried out with Grounded Theory Method. Nineteen participants in the study were selected; the data were collected by recording face to face depth interviews and observations. Ëach of the interviews was transcripted، after careful and repeated listening to recordings tape. Data with constant comparative، ongoing review of interviews، observations، field notes and memo and by Strauss and Çorbin 1998 and 2008 methods were analyzed.

Ïn this study، psychological- emotional changes category included loss of adaptation ability to conditions، depression، loneliness، loss of sense of authority and respect، a sense of powerlessness، regret the past and worry and fear. Âlso، it was emerged that there are interrelated defective cycle among physical changes and the psychological-emotional changes، social، cultural and economical deprivations. Çonclusion: Âccording to the results of this study، psychological- emotional changes in elderly women are not related to the aging phenomenon. But، it is Çonsequence of living conditions and how to adapt to influential factors during this period. Nurses and other health care providers must consider these deprivations and its effective factors in order to be able to care the elderly women in achieving to the successful aging.