Widowhood in the third age : experiences of adversity and new beginnings

Abstract

This article reports upon the experiences and perspectives of widowhood among older persons in the third age whose spouse passed away to examine how this life event and transition impacts young-old persons aged 60 to 74 years. The research adopted a qualitative methodological approach to enable a subjective and interpretative investigation on the reactions and coping mechanisms of both widowers and widows. Ten participants, six widows and four widowers, aged between 70 and 75 years, participated in this study: all participants lost their spouses between 5 and 10 years prior to data collection. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed via thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged, namely experiencing widowhood, adaptation and adjustment, and aftermath, all having their own respective subthemes. The study reports that despite ageist attitudes stating that widowhood in old age is an ‘expected’ event, none of the participants expected this to happen to them. The difficulty of navigating the challenges, consequences, and changes that come with this life transition varied between participants. The research concludes that transitioning to the role of widow or widower is the most prominent and challenging personal change encountered upon entering widowhood. While it may bring feelings of vulnerability, it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth, reveal hidden strengths, passions, and aspirations, and also uncover personal agency, allowing them to build a new life for themselves and embrace new beginnings.