Spiritual Resiliency in Older Women : Models

Spiritual Resiliency In Older Women records the narratives of spiritually resilient older German and American women. The authors suggest how persons of all ages can gain maturity and spiritual coping by participating in communities based on faith, which acknowledge the emotion of spiritual experiences and integrate faith and close human relationships.

Preface

ix

Acknowledgments

xi

PART I: INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL RESILIENCY

An Invitation to Listen

3

(12)

What is Spiritual Resiliency?

5

(2)

Why Study Old Women?

7

(2)

Advocacy Issues

9

(1)

The Precipitating Event

10

(1)

The Project

11

(1)

A Preview of the Findings

12

(3)

Questions of Meaning, Stories of Faith

15

(23)

Resiliency: The Bouncing-Back Factor

16

(2)

Clinical Perspectives

18

(2)

Developmental Perspectives

20

(1)

Intersection of Clinical Assumptions and Religious Questions

21

(2)

Scholarly Perspectives

23

(4)

Feminist Voices and Lutheran Beliefs

27

(11)

Overview of Study Methods

38

(11)

Cross-Cultural Methodology

38

(1)

Symbolic Interactionism

39

(1)

The Importance of a Denominationally Specific Sample

39

(1)

Study Participants

39

(1)

Sources of Data

40

(3)

Data Analysis

43

(1)

Validity and Reliability in This Research

43

(1)

The Coauthors' Relationship

44

(5)

PART II: THE STORIES

The Gracious Encounters Begin

49

(11)

Beginnings

49

(1)

Adventures on the Journey

50

(2)

The Focus Group Meetings

52

(7)

The In-Depth Interviews

59

(1)

The American Women

60

(16)

Rebecca: Strength Through Prayer and Thought

60

(5)

Lovey: Faith as Love and Family

65

(3)

Martha: Faith as the Power for Work

68

(3)

Miriam: Growth Through Suffering

71

(5)

The German Women

76

(13)

Emma: Faith as Reflections and Community

76

(3)

Anna: Faith as Connectedness

79

(4)

Inge: The Joy of Living

83

(3)

Elisabeth: Faith and Personal Peace

86

(3)

Resiliency and Community

89

(16)

Community and the Gift of Other People

90

(3)

Community and Love

93

(4)

Community, Affirmation, and Self-Identity

97

(1)

Community and Lifestyle

98

(1)

Community and Religious Symbols

99

(2)

Community and Outreach

101

(1)

Community: A Place for Sharing Doubts, Joys, and Sorrows

102

(1)

Community: The Richness of Its Contributions

103

(2)

Resiliency and Emotion

105

(10)

Affect and Community

105

(1)

Affect and Relationships

106

(2)

Affect and Self

108

(1)

Affect and Difficult Times

109

(3)

Affect and Faith Experiences

112

(3)

Resiliency and Personal Relationships

115

(10)

The Importance of Personal Relationships

115

(2)

Faith as a Relationship

117

(8)

PART III: CONCLUSION

Implications for Thinking, Being, and Telling

125

(11)

Implications for Working with Aging Persons

126

(1)

Findings in Relation to Clinical Perspectives

127

(6)

Suffering and Questions of Meaning

133

(3)

Implications for Gerontology

136

(5)

Implications for Research on Successful Aging

136

(1)

Further Significance of This Research Within Gerontology

137

(1)

Significance of This Research Within Feminism

138

(1)

Significance for the Study and Practice of Spirituality

138

(1)

Implications for Church Practice and Policy

139

(2)

Postscript: The Gracious Encounters Continue

141

(6)

Appendix: Research Journal

147

(23)

References

170

(6)

Index

176

(3)

About the Authors

179

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Spiritual Resiliency in Older Women : Models of Strength for Challenges Through the Life Span

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