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Table 2 Summary of final themes

From: The experience of living alone as an older woman in the UK during the Covid pandemic: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Superordinate theme

Subthemes

Support from data

Productivity

Role / structure / purpose / routine / absence

“…made me think what, what purpose have I got? I don’t work, I don’t…but volunteering is so important…” (Denise)

“… so I don’t do much unless I go to a class so I’m a member of various groups and that’s what I would normally do but as they’re not going at the moment I’m not doing anything…” (Diane)

Ownership

Choice / health / decision-making / practicalities

“I’ve got to do something, but I don’t know what I am going to do… But there again it’s up to me, in the end. No-one can tell me what to do.” (Janet)

“… of course, I’m wondering what will happen cos … would I rather stay here [current home] and be peaceful and have people in y’know like I do now really you know just as friends but not being with people in constantly if you see what I mean?” (Kim)

Interconnectedness

Continuity / ruptures / adaptation / reciprocity

“And I lost all the volunteering job cos they all shut obviously and all this meeting friends, my whole life in fact I lost.” (Diane)

“But as I say I’ve got through it a bit and you just have to make a different path for yourself I suppose.” (Angela)