THEATER-BASED PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH WITH WOMEN CARING FOR SPOUSES WITH DEMENTIA - Innovation in Aging 2025 - Vol. 9, No. S2 529

Sep 29, 2026

Spouses caring for partners with dementia face complex challenges shaped by their marital life course. This study examined older women’s experiences while caring for spouses with dementia and assessed how Theater-Participatory Action Research (T-PAR) can support self-exploration and transformation. Across 10 sessions, seven female caregivers used theatrical methods, guided recall interviews, and inductive reflexive thematic analysis integrating the Six-Keys model. Three themes and experiential continua illuminated shifting roles and coping identities, highlighting agency and resilience.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Aim and Approach

Participants and Procedure

Data Analysis Framework

Findings: Themes and Experiential Continua

Discussion and Implications

FAQs

What was the focus of the study?

The study explored older women’s experiences caring for spouses with dementia and examined how Theater-Participatory Action Research (T-PAR) can enable self-exploration and transformation.

How was the T-PAR intervention conducted?

Seven female caregivers participated in 10 sessions using theatrical methods. Guided recall interviews were conducted while reviewing video-recorded sessions.

What analytical method was used to interpret the data?

Data were analyzed using an inductive reflexive thematic approach, integrating the Six-Keys model for analyzing dramatic scenes.

What outcomes were highlighted by the findings?

The results showed that theatrical methods helped caregiver-women explore shifting identities, rehearse coping strategies, and reimagine how they relate to partners and broader support systems.

Sep 29, 2026

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