Women ageing solo in Ireland: an exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs

Article


Reilly, E., Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Lambert, N. 2020. Women ageing solo in Ireland: an exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs. Qualitative Social Work. 19 (1), pp. 75-92. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325018796138
TypeArticle
TitleWomen ageing solo in Ireland: an exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs
AuthorsReilly, E., Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Lambert, N.
Abstract

This study explores the impact of relationship status for women in Ireland who are ageing ‘solo’ and their perspectives on relationship status and their future care needs. Solo women were defined as those over 55 years who identify with long-term, non partnered relationship status and have not had children. In-depth qualitative interviews with 10 women were used to gather data on how participants responded to their solo status. Voice-relational method was used to analyse the data and we report on three themes relating to social work. Firstly, participants experienced social stigma related to their status as solo women; secondly, their resistance and resilience in response and thirdly, the anticipated challenges and experiences of solo ageing in relation to meeting their care and support needs. Whilst conducted in Ireland, further research in this area is important to identify how social policy is inclusive for marginalised populations in ageing in similar contexts. Our findings suggest the need for increased professional
awareness of women ageing solo when undertaking assessment and designing women’s person-centred support.

KeywordsSolo, singleness, gender, ageing, social work with women, women’s care needs, Ireland, relational methodology
PublisherSAGE Publications
JournalQualitative Social Work
ISSN1473-3250
Electronic1741-3117
Publication dates
Online28 Aug 2018
Print01 Jan 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited31 Aug 2018
Accepted20 Jul 2018
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

Eileen Reilly, Trish Hafford-Letchfield, and Nicky Lambert, Women ageing solo in Ireland: An exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs, Qualitative Social Work, 19(1), 75-92. Copyright © 2018 The Author (s). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325018796138
LanguageEnglish
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/87wzq

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 30
    total views
  • 7
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Adjuvant administration of probiotic effects on sexual function in depressant women undergoing SSRIs treatment: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial
Hashemi-Mohammadabad, N., Taghavi, S., Lambert, N., Moshtaghi, R., Bazarganipour, F. and Sharifi, M. 2024. Adjuvant administration of probiotic effects on sexual function in depressant women undergoing SSRIs treatment: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 24 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05429-w
An exploration of the experience of women with mental and physical health issues
Lambert, N. 2023. An exploration of the experience of women with mental and physical health issues. DProf thesis Middlesex University Mental Health and Social Work
Expansive learning: online nurse education that is co-produced, creative and critical
Lambert, N., Pezzella, A., Vargas, A., Willimott, J. and Gleeson, H. 2021. Expansive learning: online nurse education that is co-produced, creative and critical. RCN Education Forum National Conference & Exhibition 2021. Stepping up: educating the nursing workforce in challenging times. London (Online) 20 - 21 Apr 2021
Inclusive learning, diversity and nurse education
Cunningham, S. and Lambert, N. 2020. Inclusive learning, diversity and nurse education. in: Cunningham, S. (ed.) Dimensions on Nursing Teaching and Learning: Supporting Nursing Students in Learning Nursing Cham, Switzerland Springer. pp. 65-81
MoDA Podcast Season 1, Episode 3, Home(Dis)comforts
Baeza Ruiz, A., Lambert, N. and Chambers, P. 2020. MoDA Podcast Season 1, Episode 3, Home(Dis)comforts.
Exploring the educational experience of culturally and linguistically diverse students in Higher Education. Preliminary findings from a small scale project
Foley, L., Dadzie, L., Pezzella, A. and Lambert, N. 2019. Exploring the educational experience of culturally and linguistically diverse students in Higher Education. Preliminary findings from a small scale project. 6th International European Transcultural Nursing Association Conference. University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic 19 - 21 Jun 2019
Student freedom and responsibility; academic citizenship and societal engagement: politics, professionalism and practice
Lambert, N., Pezzella, A. and Gleeson, H. 2018. Student freedom and responsibility; academic citizenship and societal engagement: politics, professionalism and practice. Philosophy and Theory of Higher Education Conference: ‘Student Being and Becoming in the Future University’. Middlesex University London, United Kingdom 11 - 12 Sep 2018
Exploring the experiences of trainee mental health workers: Moving from theory to practice
Kirton, Charlotte, Lambert, Nicky, Matheson, Helen and Connell, Sandra 2018. Exploring the experiences of trainee mental health workers: Moving from theory to practice. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice. 13 (3), pp. 137-147. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-12-2016-0061
Ageing solo in Ireland: an exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs
Reilly, E., Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Lambert, N. 2018. Ageing solo in Ireland: an exploratory study of women’s perspectives on relationship status and future care needs. The Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) 2018. Dublin, Ireland 04 - 07 Jul 2018
'Outside the original remit': Co-production in UK mental health research, lessons from the field
Lambert, N. and Carr, S. 2018. 'Outside the original remit': Co-production in UK mental health research, lessons from the field. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 27 (4), pp. 1273-1281. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12499
Single women living alone in later life: evidence from understanding society data
Khan, H., Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Lambert, N. 2018. Single women living alone in later life: evidence from understanding society data. in: Dunk-West, P. and Hafford-Letchfield, T. (ed.) Sexuality, Sexual and Gender Identities and Intimacy Research in Social Work and Social Care: A Lifecourse Epistemology London Routledge. pp. 155-175
Stories of intimacy and sexuality in later life: solo women speak
Lambert, N., Hafford-Letchfield, T., Khan, H., Brady, D., Long, E. and Clarke, L. 2018. Stories of intimacy and sexuality in later life: solo women speak. in: Dunk-West, P. and Hafford-Letchfield, T. (ed.) Sexuality, Sexual and Gender Identities and Intimacy Research in Social Work and Social Care: A Lifecourse Epistemology London Routledge. pp. 176-196
Determinants of health-related lifestyles among university students
Aceijas, C., Waldhäusl, S., Lambert, N., Cassar, S. and Bello-Corassa, R. 2017. Determinants of health-related lifestyles among university students. Perspectives in Public Health. 137 (4), pp. 227-236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913916666875
Going solo: Findings from a survey of women ageing without a partner and who do not have children
Hafford-Letchfield, T., Lambert, N., Long, E. and Brady, D. 2017. Going solo: Findings from a survey of women ageing without a partner and who do not have children. Journal of Women and Aging. 29 (4), pp. 321-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2016.1187544
What is my life for? Exploring the experiences of SOLO women in later life
Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Lambert, N. 2016. What is my life for? Exploring the experiences of SOLO women in later life. Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development. Seoul, South Korea 27 - 30 Jun 2016
Barriers and determinants of physical activity among UK university students
Aceijas, C., Bello-Corassa, R., Waldhäusl, S., Lambert, N. and Cassar, S. 2016. Barriers and determinants of physical activity among UK university students. 9th European Public Health Conference - All for Health, Health for All. Vienna, Austria 09 - 12 Nov 2016 Oxford University Press (OUP). pp. 430 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw174.255
Determinants of nutritional imbalance among UK university students: a cross sectional study
Waldhäusl, S., Aceijas, C., Lambert, N. and Bello-Corassa, R. 2016. Determinants of nutritional imbalance among UK university students: a cross sectional study. 9th European Public Health Conference - All for Health, Health for All. Vienna, Austria 09 - 12 Nov 2016 Oxford University Press (OUP). pp. 354 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw174.058
Health related lifestyles among university students. Having the time of their lives?
Aceijas, C., Waldhäusl, S., Lambert, N., Cassar, S. and Bello-Corassa, R. 2016. Health related lifestyles among university students. Having the time of their lives? 9th European Public Health Conference - All for Health, Health for All. Vienna, Austria 09 - 12 Nov 2016 Oxford University Press (OUP). pp. 77 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw166.011
Solo women - a new agenda for ageing?
Hafford-Letchfield, T., Lambert, N. and Long, E. 2015. Solo women - a new agenda for ageing? Journal of Fertility Counselling. 22 (1), pp. 10-12.
Ways of seeing : using filmaking to engage students with communities
Hafford-Letchfield, T., Clancy, C., Cartney, P., MacDonald, A., Lambert, N., Collins, D. and So, T. 2014. Ways of seeing : using filmaking to engage students with communities. Enter Mental Health Annual Symposium. Barcelona, Spain 17 - 19 Jun 2014
Going solo: exploring the intimate and broader relationships of older single women without children and the implications for their support needs in later life
Hafford-Letchfield, T., Khan, H. and Lambert, N. 2014. Going solo: exploring the intimate and broader relationships of older single women without children and the implications for their support needs in later life. 43rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology. Southampton 01 - 03 Sep 2014 pp. 1-1
The challenge of dignity in mental health
Hadland, R. and Lambert, N. 2014. The challenge of dignity in mental health. British Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 3 (3), pp. 132-136. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjmh.2014.3.3.132
Understanding and supporting the physical health needs of clients
Lambert, N. 2012. Understanding and supporting the physical health needs of clients. Mental Health Practice. 15 (10), pp. 14-19. https://doi.org/10.7748/mhp2012.07.15.10.14.c9195
Revisit the forgotten art of letter writing
Green, A. and Lambert, N. 2013. Revisit the forgotten art of letter writing. Mental Health Practice. 16 (8), pp. 30-34. https://doi.org/10.7748/mhp2013.05.16.8.30.e821
Meet Mohammed: using simulation and technology to support learning
Lambert, N. and Watkins, L. 2013. Meet Mohammed: using simulation and technology to support learning. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice. 8 (2), pp. 66-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2012-0001
Ban happy sheets! — Understanding and using evaluation
Lambert, N. 2012. Ban happy sheets! — Understanding and using evaluation. Nurse Education Today. 32 (1), pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2011.05.020
Enjoyable learning: The role of humour, games, and fun activities in nursing and midwifery education
Baid, H. and Lambert, N. 2010. Enjoyable learning: The role of humour, games, and fun activities in nursing and midwifery education. Nurse Education Today. 30 (6), pp. 548-552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2009.11.007