RABELOVÁ, Anna, Anna ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and Stanislav SVAČINKA. Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term relationships in older age. Journal of Family Psychology. Washington, D. C.: APA, 2024, vol. 38, No 1, p. 17-25. ISSN 0893-3200. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0001157.
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Basic information
Original name Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term relationships in older age.
Authors RABELOVÁ, Anna (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Anna ŠEVČÍKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Stanislav SVAČINKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
Edition Journal of Family Psychology, Washington, D. C. APA, 2024, 0893-3200.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study 50100 5.1 Psychology and cognitive sciences
Country of publisher United States of America
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW URL
Impact factor Impact factor: 2.700 in 2022
Organization unit Faculty of Social Studies
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0001157
UT WoS 001108460400001
Keywords in English long-term relationships; marriage; older couples; later life; Czech Republic
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: Mgr. Blanka Farkašová, učo 97333. Changed: 22/5/2024 14:21.
Abstract
Prior research has focused on couples who were successful in maintaining a long-term relationship. However, there is a knowledge gap in what characterizes late-life long-term partnerships and what holds them together. Using the grounded theory, we analyzed 29 interviews with 65+ year olds (11 men, age median = 72) who were in relationships of 25+ years. We explored the present state of the relationship, looking beyond the understanding that long-term relationships, by virtue of being long, are successful. Older people saw their partnerships as indivisible, without implying that they were satisfied and, despite challenges, preferred to sustain them (a) because alternatives were perceived as poor, (b) too much would be lost, and (c) to maintain the status quo and maintain calm at every cost. Feeling indivisible implied “entrapment” to some. Others felt that peace-eliciting stability and security were enhanced by the accumulated joint experience of the partners. The findings challenge the view that later life long-term relationships are the outcome of success and point to mechanisms that keep couples together at older age.
Links
GA20-25752S, research and development projectName: Proměny partnerských vztahů ve starším věku
Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Partnership changes in older age
MUNI/A/1460/2022, interní kód MUName: Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem 2
Investor: Masaryk University
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