IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v351y2024ics0277953624004040.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“When we were allowed to go back … the freedom, the vista, the delight … It was just magic”: Disruption and adaptation among people ageing-in-place in Ireland during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Guzman, Viveka
  • Doyle, Frank
  • Foley, Ronan
  • Wilson, Penny
  • Crowe, Noelene
  • Craven, Peter
  • Pertl, Maria

Abstract

COVID-19 person-place disruptions may dislocate enabling resources and affect the short- and long-term wellbeing of individuals ageing-in-place. However, outcomes may vary according to individuals' personal experiences and capabilities to put in place adaptive strategies. Underpinned by the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, this study aimed to identify shifts in older people's relationships to place during the pandemic and to gain a deeper understanding of their adaptive strategies. We analysed data collected between April–May and October–November 2021 from the [Details omitted for double-blind reviewing], a qualitative investigation of community-dwellers based in Ireland and aged 65 years or over. Participants (n = 57) completed written submissions, narrative interviews and/or go-along interviews detailing their experiences during the pandemic. The mean age of participants was 74.9 years, 53% were female, 46% lived alone, and 86% lived in areas with high urban influence. Our framework analysis identified three thematic categories: 1) Characterization of individuals experiencing flow or disruption of place-resources; 2) Effects of place-resource disruptions; and 3) Adaptive strategies to manage disruption. Findings suggest that during the pandemic individuals ageing-in-place experienced trajectories of resistant flow, resilient flow, chronic disruption, or delayed disruption of place-resources, Participants' health and wellbeing was influenced in diverse ways by the threat of- and actual loss of material, social and affective resources. To compensate for disruptions, participants developed multiple adaptive strategies that highlight older people's potential to transform themselves, others, and their environments during times of adversity. These findings showcase the processes by which health enabling places may be maintained and generated, and present areas of opportunity for public health interventions seeking to support ageing populations during public health emergencies and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Guzman, Viveka & Doyle, Frank & Foley, Ronan & Wilson, Penny & Crowe, Noelene & Craven, Peter & Pertl, Maria, 2024. "“When we were allowed to go back … the freedom, the vista, the delight … It was just magic”: Disruption and adaptation among people ageing-in-place in Ireland during COVID-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:351:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624004040
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116960
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953624004040
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116960?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Judith Green, 2004. "Book Review: Qualitative Methods and Health Policy Research," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 9(4), pages 108-109, November.
    2. Dale Dannefer, 2003. "Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage and the Life Course: Cross-Fertilizing Age and Social Science Theory," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(6), pages 327-337.
    3. Jean-Pierre Neveu & Stevan E. Hobfoll & Jonathon Halbesleben & M Westman, 2018. "Conservation of resources in the organizational context : the reality of resources and their consequences," Post-Print hal-02472360, HAL.
    4. Grove, Hannah, 2021. "Ageing as well as you can in place: Applying a geographical lens to the capability approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    5. Jonathon Halbesleben & Jean-Pierre Neveu & Samantha Paustian-Underdahl & Mina Westman, 2014. "Getting to the “COR”: Understanding the Role of Resources in Conservation of Resources Theory," Post-Print hal-02049109, HAL.
    6. Catherine Bigonnesse & Habib Chaudhury, 2022. "Ageing in place processes in the neighbourhood environment: a proposed conceptual framework from a capability approach," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 63-74, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wenjun Wu & Dengke Yu, 2023. "The role of individual perceptions in the completion of formalistic tasks," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Zhiyi Gan & Jinhua Gan & Zhiqing E. Zhou & Hanying Tang, 2024. "Organizational Benefits of Commuting Support: The Impact of Flexible Working Hours on Employees’ OCB through Commuting Control," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 75-89, August.
    3. Zhining Wang & Shuang Ren & Doren Chadee & Yuhang Chen, 2024. "Employee Ethical Silence Under Exploitative Leadership: The Roles of Work Meaningfulness and Moral Potency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(1), pages 59-76, February.
    4. Guangyi Xu & Jianji Zeng & Hongli Wang & Chen Qian & Xinran Gu, 2022. "How Transformational Leadership Motivates Employee Involvement: The Roles of Psychological Safety and Traditionality," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440211, February.
    5. Émilie Lapointe & Christian Vandenberghe & Shea X. Fan, 2022. "Psychological contract breach and organizational cynicism and commitment among self-initiated expatriates vs. host country nationals in the Chinese and Malaysian transnational education sector," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 319-342, March.
    6. Zhang, Xi & Wei, Xin & Zhang, Te & Tan, Yahe & Xu, Dongming & Ordóñez de Pablos, Patricia, 2023. "How platform-based internet hospital innovation affects doctors’ active stress coping efforts: The conservation of resource theory perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Saleh M. Bajaba & Abdulah M. Bajaba & Abdulrahman S. Basahal, 2021. "Can Powerful Boards Increase Firm Innovativeness When Faced with Exploitative CEOs?," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(11), pages 171-171, July.
    8. Eissa, Gabi, 2020. "Individual initiative and burnout as antecedents of employee expediency and the moderating role of conscientiousness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 202-212.
    9. Usman, Muhammad & Khalid, Adeel & Saeed, Munazza & Shafique, Shoaib & Babalola, Mayowa T. & Ren, Shuang, 2024. "Invigorating the spirit of being adaptive: Examining the role of spiritual leadership in adaptive selling," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    10. Zhou, Yanzhe & Sun, Jian-Min (James), 2025. "Perceived organizational politics and employee voice: A resource perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    11. Sumera Arshad & Dr. Muhammad Nazim & Dr. Abdul Rasheed, 2024. "Navigating Knowledge Hiding: The Influence of Supervisee Job Based Psychological Ownership on Job Performance in Manufacturing Settings," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 13(1), pages 617-627.
    12. Khaliq, Abdul & Waqas, Ali & Nisar, Qasim Ali & Haider, Shahbaz & Asghar, Zunaina, 2022. "Application of AI and robotics in hospitality sector: A resource gain and resource loss perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    13. Yang, Dan & Tang, Guiyao & Jia, Junyun, 2025. "Greening for greater meaning: A dynamic examination of the consequences of voluntary employee green behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    14. Yang Yang & Rui Yan & Yuting Gao & Feng Feng & Yan Meng, 2023. "Joint Efforts: Can We Succeed? Stimulating Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Through a Psychosocial Safety Climate," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    15. Capeau, Fanny & Valette-Florence, Pierre & Cova, Véronique, 2024. "A consumer demands-resources model of engagement: Theoretical and managerial contributions from a cross-validated predictive ability test procedure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    16. Hao Zhou & Xinyi Sheng & Yulin He & Xiaoye Qian, 2020. "Ethical Leadership as the Reliever of Frontline Service Employees’ Emotional Exhaustion: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, February.
    17. Riekhoff, Aart-Jan & Vaalavuo, Maria, 2021. "Health shocks and couples’ labor market participation: A turning point or stuck in the trajectory?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    18. Sun, Nan & Yang, Fan, 2021. "Impacts of internal migration experience on health among middle-aged and older adults—Evidence from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    19. Faith Osasumwen Olanrewaju & Adekunle Olanrewaju & Femi Omotoso & Joshua Olaniyi Alabi & Emmanuel Amoo & Ejiroghene Loromeke & Lady Adaina Ajayi, 2019. "Insurgency and the Invisible Displaced Population in Nigeria: A Situational Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, April.
    20. Nguyen, Bach & Tran, Hai-Anh & Stephan, Ute & Van, Ha Nguyen & Anh, Pham Thi Hoang, 2024. "“I can't get it out of my mind” - Why, how, and when crisis rumination leads entrepreneurs to act and pivot during crises," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(4).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:351:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624004040. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.