Examined by in-depth interviews lived experience of aging in 32 community dwelling adults aged 50 to 80. Identified 5 categories of coping activities. Findings suggest that individuals who believe they are coping successfully see aging as positive life experience, despite acknowledgment of negative changes in themselves and people close to them.…

Discusses fieldwork experience in human development/gerontology that focuses on tapping reflections of individuals through interrelative process of interviewing. Presents phenomenological data gathering technique and explores method of life review and reminiscence collection taught to 200 college students. Describes protocol, discusses samples of…

In-depth interviews were used to investigate how life is experienced by persons at age 85 (N=129) and again at 92 (N=41). Seven patterns of adjustment ranging from self-realization to withdrawal emerged, and heterogeneity remained at follow-up with some changes in the characteristics of the categories and in coping strategies. (Author/EMK)