Ageing: a case study of autobiographical narration to promote meaning-making, legacy and psychological well-being among a sample of South African older adults.

Abstract

Successful ageing is a multi-faceted concept. Older people experience a vast number difficulties across almost all domains of life that impede their journey towards ageing well. During this phase of life, seniors must also face certain developmental challenges such as establishing a legacy and making meaning from life, which may help them to age well and contribute to psychological well-being. This area of research appears to be understudied, particularly in South African research. The purpose of this study is to explore how older adults make sense of their lives and how they understand and articulate legacy. Methods This study used a case study approach to explore the life stories of five, Caucasian participants living in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Three females and two males each participated in two semi-structured interviews. Results Across the board, religious beliefs and theological views predominated participants’ meaning-making structures, and seemed to influence how they make sense of their lives, articulated legacy and psychological well-being. Conclusion The current study attempted to make a contribution to the body of knowledge on the psychological well-being of older adults, how they articulate legacy and the ways in which religion and spirituality may contribute to how they make sense of experience. Theology seemed to be a strong underlying factor.