Abstract
Widowhood is considered one of the most distressing transitions experienced by older adults, yet the bereaved display tremendous variation in their psychological and social adjustment to loss. We argue that widowhood is a multifaceted transition, and that its personal consequences are contingent upon macrosocial conditions, such as demographic patterns and gender-based allocation of social roles; dyadic characteristics, including marital quality; and individual-level attributes, such as gender. Moreover, we argue that an accurate statistical portrait of late-life widowhood requires that researchers use prospective longitudinal data, contrast the bereaved with members of a non-bereaved control group, and adjust for pre-loss characteristics which influence both the risk of and consequences of widowhood. To illustrate these points, we present new research findings from the Changing Lives of Older Couples study, a prospective study of older widowed persons and matched controls in the United States. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.
Published Version
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