Life-lines of Finnish people aged 83-87

This article presents the characteristics of the life-lines drawn by older Finnish men and women. The study was part of the Evergreen Project, Finland. Seventy-eight persons aged 83-87 participated in an interview, in which they were asked to draw a life-line. The life-line was drawn on a standardized sheet as a continuous line which showed the intensity of positive and negative affects during the course of life. An interview concerning the major life events on the life-line and the most positive and negative life periods was administered after the life-line was drawn. The shape of the life-line was analyzed by calculating the level, trend, and variance, as well as the maximum and minimum points. The content analysis of the life-lines was based on self-reports concerning the major life events and the most positive and negative periods in life. The drawings mostly showed an upward trend. On average, women drew the line on a slightly higher level than men. Interindividual variance was greatest in early childhood and old age and smallest in middle age, whereas intra-individual variance was greatest in early adulthood and smallest in old age. Most of the lowest points were located in childhood and the highest points in the present (old age). The densest period in terms of the location of major life events and their affective meaning was youth and young adulthood (15-30 years). The most frequently expressed contents of the life-line dealt with human relationships and school in women, and work-related issues and war in men.