Exploring the Lived Experiences of Spousal Bereavement and Widowhood among Older Chinese Immigrants in Calgary
Date
2019-02-26
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Abstract
Spousal bereavement poses considerable challenges to adults in late life. Some populations, such as older immigrants, may experience heightened negative outcomes as a consequence of spousal bereavement, due to migratory stress and marginalization. Spousal bereavement is also culturally-embedded as it is related to cultural beliefs and attitudes concerning death and family relationships. However, studies on spousal bereavement or widowhood among older immigrant groups are limited. This study aims to fill the gap by exploring, via a phenomenological approach, the lived experiences of widowed older Chinese immigrants in Calgary. This study addressed two main research questions: 1) What are the lived experiences of widowed Chinese older immigrants in coping with their spousal bereavement? and 2) What supports do widowed older Chinese immigrants draw from to cope with their bereavement and to adjust to widowhood? Findings were categorized into four levels, individual, family, community and society. It was found that grief was long-lasting among participants. They took grief privately, with using rituals and faith. Although family and ethno-cultural communities played an important role in providing supports to participants during their widowhood, both were unable to directly help them cope with the spousal loss. Most participants did not access social services for bereavement support. Participants’ lived experience of widowhood were also embedded with multi-dimensional identities: age, gender, immigration, and ethnicity. Immigration background and ethno-cultural factors were recognized in relation to their significant impact on participants’ late-life widowhood. Limitations of this study, implications for further research and social work practice and policy-making were included.
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Keywords
spousal bereavement, widowhood, lived experiences, Chinese immigrant, older adult
Citation
Wang, Q. (2019). Exploring the lived experiences of spousal bereavement and widowhood among older Chinese immigrants in Calgary (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.