INTEGRATIVE AGING IN WIDOWED IMMIGRANT FILIPINAS: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY.
Contributors: Adelphi University.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 381
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Women's Studies.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.
Description: There are over 2 million Filipinos in the United States yet, there is very little health care information about them. Furthermore, recent immigrants, particularly older widowed women have not been studied as actual and/or potential recipients of nursing and health care.

This study's purposes were to generate hypotheses about the aging experiences of widowed immigrant Filipinas and determine their adjustment to a new culture.

This qualitative study used an interview guide as the main tool for data collection. This guide was generated from the concept of ethnicity, defined as a sense of peoplehood, and the review of related literature. The review of related literature included a discussion of Malayan, Chinese, and Spanish cultures as these were the main influences of Filipinos. Relevant Filipino values which reflected these culture contacts were described. Family relationships, aging, widowhood, gender role socialization, changes affecting women, and expectations of women as they age in mainstream America were included as considerations in view of the immigration process.

Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously and through the process of constant comparative analysis, themes were identified, clusters were formed, and finally five theme categories emerged. From the reflections on the data, the theoretical sampling of the literature, and collection of more data for verification, the core category emerged. This core category was identified as integrative aging perceived as a process which linked the five theme categories. These theme categories were subprocesses and included (a) adopting flexibility in the processes of assimilation and acculturation, (b) valuing the experience of widowhood, (c) optimizing one's level of wellness, (d) nurturing satisfying family relationships, and (e) establishing social support networks. These subprocesses were viewed as tasks which transcended developmental perspectives because they facilitated the integration of the widowed women into their immigrant families and the new culture. Hypotheses regarding the significance of these subprocesses to aging were generated. Implications for nursing practice, administration, education, and research were suggested as potential areas for individualizing nursing and health care for these Filipinas.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-07, Section: B, page: 2852.

Thesis (PH.D.)--ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, 1989.

School code: 0001.