Coping processes that foster accommodation to loss in old age.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Flexible adjustment to loss is crucial for healthy aging.
• Limited understanding exists regarding effective coping mechanisms for loss accommodation in older adults.
• Psychological resource activation is key for adapting to inevitable life losses in later years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize effective coping processes for achieving accommodation to loss in old age.
• To foster the activation of psychological resources in older adults facing significant losses.
• To understand how older adults adapt to life changes and losses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 35 in-depth interviews with adults aged 60 and above (16 men, 19 women).
• Data collection through observation and content analysis using Atlas-Ti (v7).
• Identification and characterization of 18 distinct coping processes in response to loss.

Main Results:

• Thirteen effective coping processes, including search for meaning and humor, were identified, predominantly used by individuals who successfully accommodated loss.
• Ineffective processes like avoidance and procrastination were more common among those with insufficient accommodation.
• No single coping process guaranteed full adjustment; a predominance of effective strategies differentiated accommodators from non-accommodators.

Conclusions:

• Accommodation to loss in old age is an active process, not solely dependent on the passage of time.
• Active coping efforts can be fostered to improve adaptation to loss in later life.
• Knowledge of effective coping practices can guide mental health interventions for older adults, enhancing their coping abilities and subjective well-being.