Communicating the Occupational Self: A Qualitative Study of Oldest-Old American Women

Abstract

This paper reviews continuity theory as it applies to the field of ageing and reports the findings of a qualitative study aimed at understanding the personal meanings of ageing and well-being from the perspective of oldest-old women. Transcribed ethnographic interviews of 23 Caucasian and African-American community-dwelling women over the age of 85, who live in the midwestern United States, were analysed through the combined theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism [1] and continuity theory [2, 3]. The women's communication about ageing and well-being leads the researchers to conclude that personal competence in the "feminine sphere" is key to understanding older women's health beliefs and behaviours in late life. Findings also point to the importance of occupational competence as a predictor of well-being in late life. This study underscores the importance of public communication of self and the role of occupational therapists in facilitating alternative visions of a meaningful occupational self.