GAMBARAN PENERIMAAN DIRI PADA LANSIA YANG DITINGGAL PASANGAN KARENA KEMATIAN

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The death of a spouse in later life represents a major life transition that reshapes older adults' emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Within this context, self-acceptance becomes an essential adaptive process through which older adults reconstruct meaning and continue their daily lives following bereavement. This study explored how self-acceptance develops among older adults who have lost their spouses due to death and identified the factors that facilitate this process. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed involving two older adults from Perkebunan Panigoran Village, North Sumatra, selected through purposive sampling. Data were generated through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation, and were analyzed using Creswell's qualitative analysis procedures, including data organization, comprehensive reading, coding, theme development, and interpretation. The findings revealed that although both participants experienced distinct bereavement trajectories, they demonstrated the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance, while depression did not emerge as a dominant characteristic. Self-acceptance was reflected in their ability to perceive the loss as part of God's will, establish a renewed sense of balance, and maintain adaptive engagement in everyday activities. This adaptive process was strengthened by religiosity, family support, broader social support, and participation in religious as well as community activities. These findings suggest that self-acceptance following spousal loss is a highly contextual and individualized experience shaped by the interaction of psychological, spiritual, and social resources, thereby enriching the understanding of bereavement adaptation among older adults in everyday life.

ABSTRAK

Kematian pasangan hidup pada usia lanjut tidak hanya menghadirkan kehilangan secara emosional, tetapi juga menuntut penyesuaian terhadap perubahan peran, rutinitas, dan cara memaknai kehidupan. Dalam situasi tersebut, penerimaan diri menjadi bagian penting dari proses adaptasi yang berlangsung secara berbeda pada setiap individu. Artikel ini mengeksplorasi bagaimana penerimaan diri terbentuk pada lansia yang kehilangan pasangan akibat kematian sekaligus mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang berkontribusi terhadap proses tersebut. Kajian dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif terhadap dua lansia di Desa Perkebunan Panigoran, Sumatera Utara, yang dipilih melalui purposive sampling. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi nonpartisipan, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan tahapan analisis kualitatif Creswell yang meliputi pengorganisasian data, pembacaan menyeluruh, pengodean, pengembangan tema, dan interpretasi. Analisis menunjukkan bahwa kedua partisipan menempuh perjalanan berduka yang tidak seragam, meskipun sama-sama memperlihatkan dinamika denial, anger, bargaining, dan acceptance, tanpa dominasi karakteristik depression. Penerimaan diri berkembang melalui kemampuan memaknai kehilangan sebagai bagian dari kehendak Tuhan, mempertahankan keberfungsian dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, serta membangun keseimbangan hidup yang baru. Religiusitas, dukungan keluarga, dukungan sosial, dan keterlibatan dalam aktivitas sosial maupun keagamaan menjadi sumber daya yang saling melengkapi selama proses adaptasi. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa penerimaan diri pada lansia setelah kehilangan pasangan merupakan pengalaman yang kontekstual, dipengaruhi oleh interaksi antara aspek psikologis, spiritual, dan sosial dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.