Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term
relationships in older age.

J 2024

Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term relationships in older age.

RABELOVÁ, Anna, Anna ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and Stanislav SVAČINKA

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

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50100 5.1 Psychology and cognitive sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

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

Abstract

V originále

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 project

Name: Proměny partnerských vztahů ve starším věku

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Partnership changes in older age

MUNI/A/1460/2022, interní kód MU

Name: Aktuální otázky psychologie zdraví – adolescenti a digitální média a sexualita napříč životem 2

Investor: Masaryk University

Citovat

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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   article_location = {Washington, D. C.},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0001157},
   keywords = {long-term relationships; marriage; older couples; later life; Czech Republic},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0893-3200},
   journal = {Journal of Family Psychology},
   title = {Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term relationships in older age.},
   url = {https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ffam0001157},
   volume = {38},
   year = {2024}
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KW  - long-term relationships
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UR  - https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ffam0001157
N2  - 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.
ER  -

RABELOVÁ, Anna, Anna ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and Stanislav SVAČINKA. Beyond success : Understanding the characteristics of long-term relationships in older age. \textit{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.

Detailed Information on Publication Record