Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Qualitative Study to Explore the Life Experiences of Older Adults in Oman

Bushra Rashid Al-Ghafri
,
Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim Eltayib
,
Zahir Badar Al-Ghusaini
ORCID logo ,
Maram Qasim Al-Nabhani
,
Abdulaziz Al-Mahrezi
,
Yaqoub Al-Saidi
,
Hamed Al-Sinawi
,
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Harrasi
,
Moon Fai Chan
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 12 August 2023 / Approved: 14 August 2023 / Online: 15 August 2023 (09:03:19 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Al-Ghafri, B.R.; Eltayib, R.A.A.; Al-Ghusaini, Z.B.; Al-Nabhani, M.Q.; Al-Mahrezi, A.; Al-Saidi, Y.; Al-Sinawi, H.; Al-Harrasi, A.M.; Chan, M.F. A Qualitative Study to Explore the Life Experiences of Older Adults in Oman. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 2135-2149. Al-Ghafri, B.R.; Eltayib, R.A.A.; Al-Ghusaini, Z.B.; Al-Nabhani, M.Q.; Al-Mahrezi, A.; Al-Saidi, Y.; Al-Sinawi, H.; Al-Harrasi, A.M.; Chan, M.F. A Qualitative Study to Explore the Life Experiences of Older Adults in Oman. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 2135-2149.

Abstract

Background: Reminiscence studies and life reviews have a number of proven advantages. Future generations gain by learning from elders' life experiences, as do older adults themselves who share their memories. Despite Oman's sizable geriatric population, research on older individuals' life experiences is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore the life experiences of older Omani individuals across their many life stages, from childhood to the present. Methods: This was a qualitative study design. A total of 13 Omani older adults (9 females and 4 males) with an average age of 68 years were recruited for this study. Socio-demographic and life review information was gathered according to a set of semi-structured guiding questions. The responses were then captured on audio recordings, which underwent transcription and translation. Thematic analysis techniques were applied to the extracted data. Results: Three main themes were evident in the study’s findings: Childhood memories, Friendships, and Relationships, as well as the elders’ past. Additionally, older adults passed on a number of gems of wisdom to be shared with the younger generations. Conclusion: This study aided in revealing the resiliency, social connections, and life reflections of Omani older adults. Based on these findings, future studies might explore particular aspects of older experiences and pinpoint solutions to improve their quality of life and well-being.

Keywords

Reminisce; Older Adults; Qualitative; Narrative; Life review; Oman

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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