An Examination of Effective Coping Strategies Against Role Loss Among Older Adults Receiving Institution-Based Care: A Focus Group Study

Authors : Bilge Açan, Elif Gökçearslan Çifci

Pages : 821-840

Doi:10.33417/tsh.1719250

View : 163 | Download : 288

Publication Date : 2025-10-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This qualitative study examines the effective coping strategies developed by older adults receiving institution-based care in response to role losses and investigates how these strategies support group members in coping with role loss. Data were collected through a focus group conducted with eight participants at Darülaceze, a residential care institution located in Istanbul, Türkiye, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged: current roles, self-selected roles, and structured roles. The findings indicated that, in order to compensate for role losses, participants adopted meaningful roles and organized their role-related behaviors in ways that aligned their individuality with their social environment. This restructuring of social roles had a positive impact on participants’ social functioning and their adaptation to institutional life. In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of assuming meaningful roles in coping with role losses and demonstrates that the empowerment approach in social work practice, together with the life wisdom shared in focus group discussions, can inform the design of interventions at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Keywords : rol kaybı, yaşlı yetişkinler, odak grup, nitel çalışma, sosyal hizmet

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