Worldview commitment and narrative foreclosure among older Dutch adults: Assessing the importance of grand narratives. Issue 4 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fortuin, Nienke P. M.; Schilderman, Johannes B. A. M.; Venbrux, Eric
• Is Part Of: Journal of religion, spirituality & aging. Volume 31:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 338
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Aging -- cultural narratives -- narrative gerontology -- religion -- worldview; Church work with older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Religious life -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Older people -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 261.8
• DOI: 10.1080/15528030.2018.1524339
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-8030

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Grand narratives offered by religion and other worldviews provide a background against which people can narrate their personal life stories. Therefore, the extent of commitment older adults experience toward their worldview is expected to influence the narrative openness of their life story. Regression analyses based on a survey study among 356 older Dutch adults demonstrate that reconsideration of the commitment toward their worldview is associated with "narrative foreclosure": the premature sentiment that their life story is actually over. Moreover, the association we found between age and narrative foreclosure toward the future emphasizes the lack of vital cultural narratives of aging.