The experience of aging among elderly Filipino women

• Main Author: Cheripurath, Anish S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Older women—Philippines; Aging > Philippines; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6456
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explored the aging experience among elderly Filipino women. The respondents of the study consisted of 9 elderly Filipino women within the age bracket of 63-80 composed of three single, three married and three widowed. The respondents also were divided according to socio economic status as upper, middle and lower class. Employing the qualitative research design of case study, the data were collected using in-depth interview and was analyzed using thematic content analysis across the cases. This study specifically explored the aging experience of elderly Filipino women from a developmental perspective consisting of physiological, psychosocial and cognitive factors, their coping strategies and the implications for gerontological counseling. Findings indicated that the Filipino elderly women’s experience of aging is multifaceted. The physiological experience of aging was similar for all groups. Psychosocial changes which included loneliness hurt and pain, anxiety and worry about the future, finding support from family members etc. varied across the groups. The attitudes/cognitions included aging as time for spiritual development and as period of dependency. This study pointed out that socio economic factors such as civil status, socioeconomic status, culture and early life experiences have bearing on the aging experiences of elderly Filipino women. The elderly Filipino women used both negative and positive coping strategies to cope with aging experience and the use of spiritual coping was prevalent in all groups. And based on the findings the implications for gerontological counseling were proposed which suggested that the counselor should be aware of the different transitions in the life of elderly, acquire necessary skills, and have empathy and patience while helping them.