A qualitative analysis of an empowerment‐based group work with widowed older adults

Objective This study aimed to examine the effect of empowerment‐based group work (EBGW) on the empowerment of widowed older adults, with the objective of fostering empowerment at personal, interpersonal, and structural levels throughout the grieving process. Background The loss of a spouse, a widespread and significant crisis, constitutes a multifaceted experience that profoundly impacts individuals in biopsychosocial terms. Method Adopting a phenomenological approach, the study sought to understand the grief experiences and empowerment trajectories of older adults through their personal narratives. In this context, nine participants who had experienced the loss of a spouse no more than 1 year ago were included in the study. Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results The analysis yielded three principal themes: (a) participants' personal empowerment journey, (b) postloss reconstruction of relationships and social support, and (c) struggling to reclaim one's place in society. The findings indicate that participants experienced empowerment across personal, interpersonal, and structural domains. Conclusion It is concluded by participants that EBGW was perceived to be a useful and effective intervention. Implications This study stands as one of the pioneering efforts to examine the effects of EBGW for widowed older adults, offering a unique quasiexperimental contribution to the fields of social work and grief studies.