Project overview
Life-changing health events – such as stroke, cancer, major surgery, or serious accidents – can profoundly disrupt older adults’ sense of identity, emotional well-being, and coping capacity. These experiences often involve loss of independence, changes in social roles, and challenges to self-concept, which can lead to feelings of isolation, shame, and reduced quality of life. Understanding how older adults adapt psychologically to these events is critical for developing interventions that promote resilience and emotional well-being in later life.
Our research addresses this need by exploring coping processes, identity reconstruction, and emotional adaptation following significant health-related changes. While quantitative studies provide valuable insights into predictors of adjustment, they often fail to capture the complexity and nuance of lived experience. A participatory approach, where older adults actively shape the research process, offers a unique opportunity to generate richer, more actionable knowledge and empower socially excluded groups most affected by these challenges.
Our research addresses this need by exploring coping processes, identity reconstruction, and emotional adaptation following significant health-related changes. While quantitative studies provide valuable insights into predictors of adjustment, they often fail to capture the complexity and nuance of lived experience. A participatory approach, where older adults actively shape the research process, offers a unique opportunity to generate richer, more actionable knowledge and empower socially excluded groups most affected by these challenges.
