Continuity and change in the labor force activity of recently widowed women.

Abstract

Employment has been suggested as a means of resolving problems experienced by older widows, yet little is known about how women change their labor force involvement following widowhood. This research reports findings from the 1975 Longitudinal Retirement History Study, which questioned widows about changes in working caused by widowhood. Almost one-third of widows were employed when their husbands died, and, among the non-employed, another one in six took jobs. Widows reported problems in locating employment, and findings suggest that work is not universally appropriate as an adaptive strategy.