"A Grip and a Dream": Voices of Older Carribean Immigrant Women in Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

This hermeneutic phenomenological study integrates transnational feminism to describe the lived experiences of older Caribbean immigrant women living in Saskatchewan, who immigrated to Canada in early adulthood in the 1960s to1980s. A purposive and snowball recruitment method was used to select ten female participants that were interviewed. The participants' ages range from 65 to 83 years. To assess the impact of social relationships on aging and quality of life this study used in-depth, individual, and semi-structured interviews for data collection. The data collected were audio-taped followed by the transcription and data analysis. Field notes and reflexivity were documented to assist with the data analysis which followed hermeneutic phenomenology and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The objective of this study is to provide a clearer understanding and further knowledge of older immigrant women perceptions of social relationships and its impact on aging, and their quality of life. Social relationships play an integral role throughout the lifespan of these women. Their perceptions about social relationships, aging, and quality of life emerged in four primary themes: (1) perceived social relationships; (2) transnational migration; (3) perceived racial discrimination and (4) aging and quality of life across the lifespan. The study’s findings indicate that forming strong social relationships contributed to good quality of life among older Caribbean immigrant women as they aged in Canada. Also, it was further revealed that social relationships and social networks formed with family, fellow Caribbean natives, and friends within their community provided emotional support throughout their lifespan which helped to ward off social isolation and loneliness. Additionally, those with good health perceive their quality of life as they age as being good while others with poor health perceive their quality of life as poor. Presumably, this study illustrates key aspects of social relationships, and quality of life of older Caribbean immigrant women who have aged in Canada. Moreover, this research will contribute to gerontological literature, inform policy, and the development of interventions that are culturally sensitive to foster social relationships among immigrant women living and aging in Canada. Future research should examine Caribbean immigrant men and women living in the different provinces to better understand both genders’ experience of how they formed social relationships and specifically how these relationships impact their quality of life. Keywords: Social relationship, Aging, Quality of life, Caribbean immigrants, Transnational migration, Transnational feminism