Amazing grace: religion and identity among elderly black individuals

A sample of forty-three "life stories" collected from elderly African-Americans residing in Southwestern Virginia is analyzed from the perspective of Continuity Theory. The focus is on the "theme" which religion plays as a bulwark of continuity in the lives of the respondents. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of aging & human development Vol. 36; no. 2; p. 103
Main Author Nye, W P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.1993
Subjects
African Americans - psychology
Aged - psychology
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Identification (Psychology)
Male
Middle Aged
Religion
Virginia
Virginia
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Summary:A sample of forty-three "life stories" collected from elderly African-Americans residing in Southwestern Virginia is analyzed from the perspective of Continuity Theory. The focus is on the "theme" which religion plays as a bulwark of continuity in the lives of the respondents. The data reveal that religion serves at least seven significant and positive functions in the normal aging process of Black-Americans. As is customary, all names of respondents have been changed to protect their anonymity.
ISSN:0091-4150
DOI:10.2190/LDK1-19CK-1VP1-5MR5