Examined data from national stratified probability sample in which divorced and widowed, particularly divorced and widowed men, were oversampled. Compared to married and, to lesser extent never married, psychological well-being of divorced and widowed was poor. Psychological well-being of divorced males, divorced females, and widowed females was…

Examined economic consequences of widowhood for both men and women over time and compared their financial well-being to that of a matched group of continuously married couples. The findings of this longitudinal study indicated that the loss of a spouse had negative economic consequences for both widows and widowers relative to continuously married…

Assessed effects of widowhood, divorce, and lifelong singleness on income and evaluations of finances at two points, and investigated factors associated with satisfaction with level of living in old age. Analysis of data from two interviews with 2,047 older adults revealed that marital status affected economic circumstances and perceptions of…

Investigated adolescent future time perspective in adolescents (N=125) aged 15 to 20 years. Found adolescents did not perceive divorce in their future although periods of singlehood, widowhood, and nuclear family life were perceived as extremely likely, particularly among female adolescents. (Author/ABL)

Used longitudinal data to investigate factors associated with evaluations of work, retirement, and well-being of 1,398 never-married, widowed, and divorced/separated men and women. Factors associated with evaluations tended to be similar across marital status. Formerly married women especially seemed to warrant attention of practitioners who plan…

Female and male college students read a description of a person and rated the individual on 20 bipolar scales describing personal traits and professional performance characteristics. Results indicated married individuals were evaluated more favorably than all groups of unmarried individuals. Males and females were perceived similarly on most…

Interviewed 226 older recent widows to examine effects of sibling characteristics on widows' receipt of help and on psychological well-being. Results revealed sibling support was contingent upon many factors, including children's proximity, and siblings' sex, marital status, and proximity. Interaction with married sisters was second only to health…

Although some people fantasize about their spouse's possible death, the literature contains no reports of research on widowhood fantasies. The incidence, characteristics, and possible function of these fantasies were examined in individual interviews with 28 divorced and married men and women. Interview data were analyzed by calculating chi-square…

Analyses of indicators of informal social supports for respondents aged 55 and older included in a national Survey Research Center study indicated that the widowed elderly generally had an advantage over the married and that sex differences were similar between married and widowed elderly. (Author/RC)

Used Canadian mortality census data from 1959 through 1981 to examine relationship between marital status transitions of men and women and mortality from neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. Found lower death rate among marrieds. Found men had greater mortality risk reduction from state of marriage than women. (Author/CM)

Previous writers have presumed that widowhood is more stressful for one sex or the other. Hypotheses derived from demographic considerations and sex role developmental theory compared the needs and resources of 147 widows and 42 widowers, relative to 190 married persons. All subjects were non-institutionalized urban residents aged 62 or over. The…