Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
Int J Older People Nurs. 2024 Jul;19(4):e12633. doi: 10.1111/opn.12633.
Existential loneliness (EL) is an unavoidable, deeper sense of loneliness. EL has been described as disconnection from life and the universe, experienced even in the presence of family and friends. Meaninglessness, loss of health and significant others seem to trigger older persons EL. Older Arabic-speaking women are a large migrant group in Sweden and there is a lack in knowledge about their experience of EL. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the phenomenon of EL as experienced by older Arabic-speaking female migrants.
This study was based on a phenomenological approach known as reflective lifeworld research (RLR). Ten older migrated Arabic-speaking women were included in the study. Lifeworld interviews were conducted to collect data. The data were analysed in accordance with the phenomenological RLR principles of openness, flexibility and bridling.
This study shows that EL is experienced when there is a lack of attachment to place and people. EL is experienced more distinctively in the beginning of the migration process. It was difficult sharing feelings of EL with anyone. Feelings of meaninglessness occurred when entering a new lifeworld and triggered EL. EL was however attenuated when being able to practise their religion.
Lack of attachment to place and people as well as feelings of meaninglessness brought existential loneliness to the fore for the older Arabic-speaking female migrants. There was a collision of lifeworlds not at least by the fact moving as a Muslim woman to one of the most secular countries in the world. Practising their religion attenuated their EL. To promote better health for this group of women, it is of importance to be aware of EL and its mode of expression.
It is crucial to let the voice of older Arabic-speaking female migrants be heard and to be aware of their experience of EL and its mode of expression in order to promote better health. Further, educational training for nursing professionals and nursing students needs to be provided to develop skills how to be aware of and address EL.
存在性孤独（EL）是一种不可避免的、更深层次的孤独感。EL 被描述为与生命和宇宙的脱节，即使在家人和朋友的陪伴下也能感受到。无意义感、失去健康和重要他人似乎会引发老年人的 EL。在瑞典，讲阿拉伯语的老年女性是一个庞大的移民群体，但人们对她们的 EL 体验知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在描述讲阿拉伯语的老年女性移民的 EL 现象。
本研究基于一种被称为反思生活世界研究（RLR）的现象学方法。研究纳入了 10 名讲阿拉伯语的老年移民女性。采用生活世界访谈收集数据。根据现象学 RLR 的开放性、灵活性和遏制原则对数据进行分析。
本研究表明，当与地方和人缺乏联系时，就会出现 EL。EL 在移民过程的开始阶段更为明显。与任何人分享 EL 的感受都很困难。进入新的生活世界时会产生无意义感，从而引发 EL。然而，当能够实践自己的宗教时，EL 会减弱。
缺乏对地方和人的依恋以及无意义感使讲阿拉伯语的老年女性移民产生了存在性孤独。生活世界的碰撞不仅是因为作为一名穆斯林女性移居到世界上最世俗的国家之一，还因为这一事实。实践自己的宗教削弱了她们的 EL。为了提高这群女性的健康水平，了解 EL 及其表现方式非常重要。
让讲阿拉伯语的老年女性移民的声音被听到，并意识到她们的 EL 体验及其表现方式，对于促进她们的健康至关重要。此外，需要为护理专业人员和护理学生提供教育培训，以培养如何意识到和解决 EL 的技能。
