Sources of joy among older African American women: A qualitative analysis

Joy has been identified as a potential contributor to health and well-being, yet remains understudied among older African American women, a group disproportionately exposed to chronic stress and structural inequities across the life course. This qualitative study explores sources of joy in later life and examines how joy is defined, experienced, and sustained within their everyday lives. Guided by Black Feminist Thought, we conducted a reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) of responses to the question "What brings you joy?" drawn from semi-structured interviews with 16 African American women aged 65-91. Narratives revealed four overarching themes: (1) Experiencing and Preserving Black Culture, (2) Play and Adventure, (3) Spirituality and Life Purpose, and (4) Community and Connection. Findings suggest that joy functions as an affirming, culturally grounded practice that challenges deficit-based narratives of aging and is central to how well-being is understood and lived in later life. These findings contribute strengths-based perspectives on later-life well-being among older African American women and underscore the importance of centering women's own meanings of joy in research, policy, and practice.