Eudaimonic well-being and narrative scaffolds : the creation of later life happiness and well-being through the story of self

Abstract

This doctoral research investigates the factors linked to eudaimonic happiness and well-being in later life through analysis of personal life stories and narrative identity. The study addresses two primary research questions: What is later life eudaimonic happiness and well-being? Furthermore, what role do narrative and storytelling play in the realisation of later life eudaimonic well-being? The first objective of this research is to develop an integrated model for later life eudaimonic well-being. This model is grounded in the emerging characteristics of the participants' personal narratives and it draws together the diverse understandings of later life well being and life-satisfaction from the literature. The second objective of this research is to examine the personal, social and cultural contexts in which eudaimonic well-being and happiness are actively constructed with the support of acculturated narrative scaffolding.