Coping strategies of Aleppian elder parents from an intergenerational perspective: Aleppo and Istanbul

Scholars in sociology extensively explored the repercussions of deteriorating familial bonds, particularly the decline of collective consciousness associated with paternal or ancestral authority, on the individual psyche of the standardized western individual. Interest in elderly individuals as a subject of research emerged only after prolonged self-reflection within the field of sociology. Besides that, migration studies had further marginalised old age, especially the case of left-behind. This study endeavours to address a gap within gerontology and migration studies, specifically concerning the treatment of "non-normative" elder individuals, and to challenge the positivistic methodologies employed in contemporary gerontology and transnational studies. It explores the coping strategies of Aleppian elder parents who remained in Aleppo with few monitoring examples from those who reside in Istanbul with their children. By integrating intergenerational solidarity and ambivalence theory, and incorporating phenomenological insights, this thesis show how intergenerational relationships and the desire for familial cohesion in later life shape the explored coping strategies of elder parents—namely, technological mediation, religious engagement, and personal perceptions of place and belonging.