A phenomenological investigation of the experience of aging in midlife women

The goal of this investigation was to clarify and describe the experience.of aging in midlife women. A phenomenological-empirical approach was chosen, and 12 articulate, mature women were interviewed about their experience of aging. Interviews were semi-structured and were tape recorded. A theoretical and empirical literature review was also conducted.

Analysis of the data involved verbatim transcriptions of the interviews and progressively collapsing the transcripts into "significant statements" from which the thematic content could be gleaned. This procedure emphasized fidelity to the participants' own words. A comprehensive list of themes was identified, which were then collapsed further into three areas of thematic focus. Major themes of the experience of aging in midlife women were identified as 1) anticipating, 2) discovering, and 3) becoming. All interviews were coded according to the thematic system. A scoring manual was constructed summarizing the themes and presenting examples of significant statements representing each thematic concern. Inter-rater reliabilities were calculated for three independent raters.

Results were discussed in terms of research approach, and in relation to previous theoretical and empirical research on the nature of women and aging. The relation of this study to earlier phenomenological studies on the experience of time and of body was discussed. Results were also considered in relation to the issues of differential gender identity.

The need for longitudinal studies to clarify the nature of aging over the course of life was considered as well as the need for phenomenological studies on men to help differentiate the varies needs and issues of midlife persons. The application of the present thematic structure to therapy was suggested, as well as further research into the relationship between differential gender issues and therapeutic process.