Stress and Resilience in the Oral Histories of Rural Older Women

Abstract

Oral history research has seldom focused on the reflections of rural older women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify: (a) stresses associated with major historical events that affected the lives of rural older women, and (b) strategies they used to deal with those stresses. Oral histories were gathered from a cross-section of 25 older women living in a small rural Midwestern community and analyzed using the method of constant comparison (Glaser & Straus, 1967). Content analysis revealed that economic hardship, disruption of family life, and fears and uncertainties were stressors associated with the Great Depression and world wars of the 20th century. Resilience was demonstrated by frugality, reliance on social supports, and acceptance. Implications for intervention with rural older women are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• life course
• older women
• rural aging
• stress process

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, National Harbor, MD, November 24, 2008.