What Does It Mean to Be Never Married in Later Life? Application of Phenomenology in an Aging Study

The growth of the aging population and increase age at marriage will result in a rise number never-married people future, although there is not sufficient qualitative evidence on this emerging phenomenon. present study aimed to explore lived experience older adults. experiences 12 adults were collected using an in-depth interview. hermeneutics method Van Manen was used for identification, description, interpretation emergent themes. Reflection participants uncovered six themes, including: feeling independence, combating loneliness, moving up self-development, regret loss, close relationships with friends relatives, being annoyed stigmatization. findings study, which illuminate hidden aspects adults’ lives, can be by healthcare professionals such as psychotherapists, also social workers. It recommended process unmarried later life factors influencing it grounded theory.