{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33512"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33512","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Social Support at Community Centers: Its Meaning in the Lives of Senior Citizens","abstract":"Research surrounding older adults, social support, and emotional well-being are richly researched topics. However, literature is devoid of qualitative studies and research focusing specifically on community centers and older adultsâ social networks, which are integral for understanding the growing needs of older adults in todayâ s society. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of phenomenology, activity theory, and ecological theory, four in-in-depth interviews were conducted and then coded for themes. The central themes highlighted family connection, connection with others, resiliency, helping others, type of activity, restoring self, community connection, exploration, convenience, and life stages. Suggestions for future research and possible impacts for clinical practice are discussed.","abstract_html":"Research surrounding older adults, social support, and emotional well-being are richly researched topics. However, literature is devoid of qualitative studies and research focusing specifically on community centers and older adultsâ social networks, which are integral for understanding the growing needs of older adults in todayâ s society. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of phenomenology, activity theory, and ecological theory, four in-in-depth interviews were conducted and then coded for themes. The central themes highlighted family connection, connection with others, resiliency, helping others, type of activity, restoring self, community connection, exploration, convenience, and life stages. Suggestions for future research and possible impacts for clinical practice are discussed.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dodson, Amy Catherine"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Human Development","degree_department":"Human Development","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Huebner, Angela J."],"committee_members":["Hendrickson, Edward L.","McCollum, Eric E.","Sayre, Julia B."],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-05-28","date_published":"2009-05-28","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:33Z","subjects":["older adults","social support","community centers"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-06102009-185319"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-06102009-185319","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33512","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Huebner, Angela J."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Hendrickson, Edward L.","McCollum, Eric E.","Sayre, Julia B."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Human Development"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dodson, Amy Catherine"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2014-03-14T20:39:47Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-03-14T20:39:47Z","2009-07-14"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009-05-28"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Development"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["older adults","social support","community centers"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-06102009-185319"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33512"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Research surrounding older adults, social support, and emotional well-being are richly researched topics. However, literature is devoid of qualitative studies and research focusing specifically on community centers and older adultsâ social networks, which are integral for understanding the growing needs of older adults in todayâ s society. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of phenomenology, activity theory, and ecological theory, four in-in-depth interviews were conducted and then coded for themes. The central themes highlighted family connection, connection with others, resiliency, helping others, type of activity, restoring self, community connection, exploration, convenience, and life stages. Suggestions for future research and possible impacts for clinical practice are discussed."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Social Support at Community Centers: Its Meaning in the Lives of Senior Citizens"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Huebner, Angela J."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Hendrickson, Edward L.","McCollum, Eric E.","Sayre, Julia B."],"dc:contributor.department":["Human Development"],"dc:creator":["Dodson, Amy Catherine"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2014-03-14T20:39:47Z"],"dc:date.available":["2014-03-14T20:39:47Z","2009-07-14"],"dc:date.issued":["2009-05-28"],"dc:description.abstract":["Research surrounding older adults, social support, and emotional well-being are richly researched topics. However, literature is devoid of qualitative studies and research focusing specifically on community centers and older adultsâ social networks, which are integral for understanding the growing needs of older adults in todayâ s society. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of phenomenology, activity theory, and ecological theory, four in-in-depth interviews were conducted and then coded for themes. The central themes highlighted family connection, connection with others, resiliency, helping others, type of activity, restoring self, community connection, exploration, convenience, and life stages. Suggestions for future research and possible impacts for clinical practice are discussed."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:identifier.other":["etd-06102009-185319"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33512"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["older adults","social support","community centers"],"dc:title":["Social Support at Community Centers: Its Meaning in the Lives of Senior Citizens"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:33Z"}