Community, Affect, and Family Relations: A Cross-Cultural Study of Spiritual Resiliency in Eight Old Women

Abstract

ABSTRACT Paying attention to emotionally resilient persons is long overdue, particularly resilient old persons. Because seniors frequently cite religious faith as a primary source of strength during difficult losses and transitions, we asked how old women might be empowered by their spirituality to transcend significant losses and traumatic family events. Using triangulated methods, a feminist perspective and symbolic interactionism, we conducted focus groups and eight in-depth interviews with women over 65 in the United States and Germany. Themes of community, affect, and relationality occurred repeatedly in the narratives, revealing both unique and universal aspects of the women's spiritualities and confirming the centrality of religion as a neglected factor in family studies research.