An examination of the life stories of the oldest-old from a life course perspective

Objective: This study examines the salient experiences in the life stories of adults aged 80+ and the differences in narrative plasticity between groups with high and low quality of life. Method: The study adopted a qualitatively driven mixed-methods design with a concurrent embedded strategy. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured life-story interviews; quantitative data were obtained using the WHOQOL-OLD. Nineteen participants aged 80 and above who scored 25 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination and were recruited via the YAŞAM Outpatient Clinic of Malatya Training and Research Hospital were selected by purposive sampling. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and second-order theoretical analysis. Quantitative findings, without independent statistical testing, were used to complement the interpretation of the qualitative results. Results: Material conditions, social relationships, migration, retirement, and the pursuit of autonomy emerged as key determinants in the life stories of very old adults. The timing of wealth loss, gender inequalities, relationships with family and the wider social environment, the retrospective reinterpretation of migration decisions, and the meanings ascribed to retirement shaped life trajectories. Experiences differed by coping style and resilience: participants with higher quality of life used plasticity to transform challenges into opportunities, whereas those with lower quality of life tended to remain anchored in the past and reported a loss of purpose. Conclusion: Life stories are not merely accumulations of past events, but dynamic processes reshaped through autonomy, gender, social support, and plasticity. Ageing policy should move beyond material assistance to strengthen autonomy, social participation, and psychosocial resilience. Key words: Life story, advanced old age, plasticity, quality of life, gerontology