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Widowhood

Social Support And Reintegration



Although social support is presumed to play an important role in bereavement outcomes and act as a buffer for stressful life events, the research is inconclusive. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the extent to which members of the social network provide various types of assistance to the bereaved is important to the pattern of recovery and adaptation (Ferraro 2001). Available confidants and access to self-help groups to assist with emotional management can help counter loneliness and promote the survivor's reintegration into society.



Much of the variability in bereavement response can be attributed to intrapersonal resources that make coping easier. For example, it has been found that a sense of optimism and belief that life has meaning is integral to how well the widowed adapted to their bereavement (Caserta and Lund 1993). Some other major factors that strongly influence the degree of difficulty experienced by widowed individuals include self-confidence (i.e., the belief that one will be able to manage the situation); a sense of optimism and self-efficacy, derived from having coped with previous life transitions; and strong self-esteem (Parkes 1988).

Widows and widowers show considerable variation in concluding their grief work, some essentially completing the process in months, others sometimes taking years to adapt to life without their mate. A small minority of people never get over the trauma of the loss. With help, however, the majority of the widowed are capable of eventually adapting to their new circumstances, managing their everyday affairs and maintaining a sense of purpose and a life of personal satisfaction.

Bibliography

Angel, J. L. (2001). "Challenges of Caring for Hispanic Elders." Public Policy and Aging Report 11:11–15.

Balkwell, C. (1981). "Transition to Widowhood: A Review of the Literature." Family Relations 30:117–127.

Berardo, D. H. (2001). "Social and Psychological Issues of Aging and Health." In Therapeutics in the Elderly, 3rd edition, ed. J. C. Delafuente and R. B. Stewart. Cincinnati, OH: Harvey Whitney Books.

Berardo, F. M. (1992). "Widowhood." In Encyclopedia of Sociology, ed. E. F. Borgatta and M. L. Borgatta. New York: Macmillan.

Blieszner, R. (1993). "A Socialist-Feminist Perspective on Widowhood." Journal of Aging Studies 7:171–182.

Carr, D.; House, J. S.; Kessler, R. C.; Nesse, R. M.; Sonnega, J.; and Wortman, C. (2000). "Marital Quality and Psychological Adjustment to Widowhood among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 44B:S197–S207.

Caserta, M., and Lund, D. A. (1993). "Intrapersonal Resources and the Effectiveness of Self-Help Groups for Bereaved Older Adults." Gerontologist 33:616–629.

DiGiulio, R. C. (1989). Beyond Widowhood. New York: Free Press.

Ferraro, K. F. (2001). "Aging and Role Transitions." In Handbook of Aging and Social Sciences, ed. R. H. Binstock and L. K. George. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Hiltz, S. R. (1979). "Widowhood: A Roleless Role." In Marriage and Family, ed. M. B. Sussman. New York: Haworth Press.

Hungerford, T. L. (2001). "The Economic Consequences of Widowhood on Elderly Women in the United States and Germany." Gerontologist 41:103–110.

Lee, G. R.; DeMaris, A.; Bavin, S.; and Sullivan, R. (2001). "Gender Differences in the Depressive Effect of Widowhood in Later Life." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 56B:S56–S61.

Levinson, D. S. (1997). "Young Widowhood: A Life Change Journey." Journal of Personal and Interpersonal Loss 2:277–291.

Lopata, H. Z. (1996). Current Widowhood: Myths and Realities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Lund, D. A. (1989). "Conclusions about Bereavement in Later Life and Implications for Interventions and Future Research." In Older Bereaved Spouses, ed. D. A. Lund. New York: Hemisphere.

Morgan, L. (1989). "Economic Well-Being following Martial Termination." Journal of Family Issues 10:86–101.

Parkes, C. M. (1988). "Bereavement as a Psychological Transition." Journal of Social Issues 44:53–65.

Pitcher, B. L., and Larson, D. C. (1989). "Elderly Widowhood." In Aging and the Family, ed. S. J. Bahr and E. T. Peterson. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath.

Roach, M. J., and Kitson, G. T. (1989). "Impact of Forewarning and Adjustment to Widowhood and Divorce." In Older Bereaved Spouses, ed. D. A. Lund. New York: Hemisphere.

Stroebe, M. S., and Stroebe, W. (1983). "Who Suffers More: Sex Differences in Health Risks of the Widowed." Psychological Bulletin 93:279–299.

Walsh, F., and McGoldrick, M. (1991). "Loss and the Family: A Systemic Perspective." In Living Beyond Loss: Death in the Family, ed. F. Walsh and M. McGoldrick. New York: Norton.

Zick, C. D., and Smith, K. R. (1991). "Patterns of Economic Change Surrounding the Death of a Spouse." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 46:5310–5320.

Other Resources

American Association of Retired Persons. (2001). "Coping with Grief and Loss: Statistics about Widowhood." Available from www.aarp.org/griefandloss/stats.html.

MacDonald, J. (2000). "Careful Choices Can Help Brighten the Future after the Sudden Loss of a Spouse." Available from http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/sav/2000530.asp.

FELIX M. BERARDO

DONNA H. BERARDO

Additional topics

Marriage and Family EncyclopediaOther Marriage & Family TopicsWidowhood - Demography Of The Widowed, Bereavement And Adaptation, Bereavement And Developmental Stages, Gender Differences, Social Support And Reintegration