301
Views
2
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Agency and communion in A Day in the Life of a thriving older adult

, , &
Pages 296-312 | Published online: 07 Sep 2016
 

ABSTRACT

A quasi-ecological case study of the agentive and communion strivings of a thriving older woman is reported here. Applying a resilience theoretical framework and employing a “Day in the Life” visual methodology, instances of agency and communion and their spiritual implications were explored in the filmed record of the woman’s Day and in the transcriptions of interviews conducted both before and subsequent to filming. Examples of agency included practicing tai chi, inquisitiveness, and maintaining independence through overcoming obstacles posed by older age; examples of communion included reciprocal communication with community members, experiences of friendship and human connection, and care about others. The integration of both personal characteristics was interconnected both during the entire course of the Day and within the several examples described. Integration of agency and communion contributes to a generative pattern of functioning, and serves as a fundamental source of moral motivation, portraying a rich representation of this participant’s thriving in ecological context.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 320.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.