A Phenomenological Study on the Marital Intimacy of Young-Old Adults Christians: Focusing on Men and Women with High Levels of Marital Intimacy

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to elucidate the experiences of marital intimacy among elderly Christian men and women with high levels of marital intimacy in their young-old adults. The researcher analyzed the data using Van Kaam's phenomenological research method. As a result, 54 sub-themes, 19 themes, and 8 categories were identified: “Overcoming Challenges with a Partner as Companion,” “Deepening Connection through Conversation,” “Emotional Bond Strengthened over Time,” “Actions Driven by the Heart,” “Reinterpreting Sexual Intimacy,” “The Golden Rule of ‘Separate, but Together’,” “The Power of Spirituality as a Guiding Light,” and “Value of Intensified Intimacy.” Additionally, the meaning structures experienced by the participants were revealed as “Recognition and Acceptance of Limitations,” “Acknowledgment and Attunement of Differences,” “Balance between Interdependence and Independence,”, “The Spouse as the Most Precious Person” and “Spirituality as a Lighthouse.”