Half dozen of one’s feminine interviewed was already unmarried. Several had been widowed (Anita and you will Fran), you to definitely try divorced (Peggy), you to definitely is actually twice divorced (Pam), you to try widowed from their basic relationship and you may separated away from their unique second matrimony (Sue), and one woman’s very first wedding finished into the divorce or separation if you are their own second finished during the widowhood (Betty). During brand new interview, how much time they had started solitary varied of cuatro ages to 21 ages. Betty had recently separated together with her lover at the time of the interview, Anita’s partner got passed away 3 years in advance of her interview, additionally the man Peggy got old to own 8 ages had passed away out-of cancer tumors cuatro and you may 1 / 2 of decades prior to now.

Methods

Semistructured interview had been conducted from the basic journalist for the a conversational, flexible style, allowing participants the chance to introduce their unique subjects interesting also to give their insider’s perspective. New discover-finished interview treated romantic relationships during the later on lifestyle, together with relationship skills. Interview was indeed held in either new participant’s household otherwise a place regarding their going for. Concur forms was in fact done before the start of interviews. Respondents’ participation is actually voluntary, in addition they weren’t settled due to their big date.

Analyses

Transcribed interview was in fact analyzed according to the types of interpretive phenomenological research (IPA) (Smith, Vegetation, & Osborn, 1997; Smith & Osborn, 2003). (suite…)