Dorfman Lorraine T, Mendez Elizabeth C, Osterhaus Joelle K
School of Social Work and Aging Studies Program, 207A North Hall, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1223, USA.
J Women Aging. 2009;21(4):303-16. doi: 10.1080/08952840903285237.
Oral history research has seldom focused on the reflections of rural older women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify: (a) stresses associated with major historical events that affected the lives of rural older women, and (b) strategies they used to deal with those stresses. Oral histories were gathered from a cross-section of 25 older women living in a small rural Midwestern community and analyzed using the method of constant comparison (Glaser & Straus, 1967). Content analysis revealed that economic hardship, disruption of family life, and fears and uncertainties were stressors associated with the Great Depression and world wars of the 20th century. Resilience was demonstrated by frugality, reliance on social supports, and acceptance. Implications for intervention with rural older women are discussed.
口述历史研究很少关注农村老年妇女的反思。这项定性研究的目的是确定：(a) 与影响农村老年妇女生活的重大历史事件相关的压力，以及 (b) 她们用来应对这些压力的策略。从居住在中西部一个小农村社区的25名老年妇女中抽取样本收集口述历史，并使用持续比较法（格拉泽和施特劳斯，1967年）进行分析。内容分析表明，经济困难、家庭生活中断以及恐惧和不确定性是与20世纪大萧条和世界大战相关的压力源。节俭、依靠社会支持和接纳体现了她们的复原力。文中还讨论了对农村老年妇女进行干预的意义。
